Themed collection 2022 Frontier and Perspective articles

This perspective article summarizes the recent developments of non-noble metal-based oxides, as a new class of catalysts for C−H bond activation, focusing on their essential surface properties.

Heterogeneous and nanocatalytic systems have been developed using organosulphur, organoselenium and organotellurium ligands and their complexes, and they have been used to catalyze Suzuki coupling reaction.

Rational design of luminescent metallacycles/metallacages for advanced biomedical imaging and cancer therapy.

Synthetic strategies and progresses in fluorescent spin-crossover materials in the last twenty years are reviewed.

The inorganic platinum complexes currently in clinical use for cancer treatment have severe side effects, and complexes with fewer side effects are required. Here we discuss recently developed theoretical methods that can help in the search for new anti-cancer drugs.

An account of the progress in the synthesis of organic carbamates for polyurethane raw materials from CO₂ using metal alkoxides as regenerating reagents.

Cobalt is an element with HER potential due to its own advantages. Recent studies on cobalt-based catalysts are categorized, with a focus on strategies to improve the HER catalytic activity of cobalt-based compound catalysts.

This study reviews the development of titanium-based MOFs in the therapeutic areas of antibacterial therapy, tumor therapy, anti-inflammatory therapy, and bone injury therapy.

A perspective on the limit and capability of the ab initio electronic structure study of lanthanide single-ion magnets is provided in this work. Both the qualitative and quantitative results that can be given by ab initio calculation are summarized.

Pyridinylimine is a versatile bidentate support for Ni and Pd precatalysts in ethylene (oligo)polymerization, providing a wide variety of products ranging from volatile oligomers to ultra-high molecular weight polyethene.

Various Interesting and multifunctional spin crossover molecules obtained by placing Fe(II) in N₄O₂ coordination environment with Jager type, hydrazone based and Schiff base ligands are discussed here.

Recent experimental and computational studies on hollow nanomaterials with different dimensions toward electrocatalytic water splitting are summarized in this review.

Inorganic material-based Janus nanosheets are classified based on their base materials, and their preparation methods and applications are summarized.

The strategy of targeting phthalocyanine photosensitizers by conjugation to different classes of anticancer drugs for improved phototherapy is reviewed.

A general overview of the magnetocaloric effect in molecular magnets including theoretical insights and an account of recent results and future perspectives.

This review presents the so far isolated and structurally characterized phosphorus-centered radicals and radical ions. Their reactivity, structure, and bonding are described.

This review highlights the advances in transition metal-catalysed dehydrogenative functionalization of alcohols using water as a solvent.

Organic conversions like oxidation, condensation, esterification, and some other types of catalytic reactions including photocatalytic reactions catalysed by POMOF materials are discussed in length with their plausible catalytic mechanisms.

An overview of metal–ligand cooperative strategies for the activation of CO₂ is presented. Cooperative methodologies are classified by the number of atoms between the metal and reactive site, (de)aromatisation processes and by metal–metal based cooperativity.

Recent progress of Ru-doped electrocatalysts for water splitting is systematically reviewed.

Chemists have a key role to play in the clinical use and improvement of platinum anticancer drugs with regard to preclinical testing, formulation, pharmacokinetics, and drug–drug interactions.

A collection of cobalt polypyridine complexes employed for the light-driven HER in aqueous solution is presented with the aim of highlighting the relevant chemical motifs that play a role in supporting efficient catalytic activity.

Pyclen and Py₂N₂ complexes are relevant compounds with applications ranging from medicine to catalysis. This review highlights the most recent research on these complexes.

This review article provides a concise overview of the present-day knowledge to emphasise the positive impact of outer coordination sphere interactions on the reactivity of water oxidation catalysed by molecular Ru-complexes.

Zn based MOFs, MIL series MOFs, and Zr-based MOFs - Three different pH-responsive drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.

The control of the hydration and protein adsorption states on hydroxyapatite surface was systematically discussed, which is very important for the proper understanding of the controllable interfacial interactions between cells and bioceramics.

This article highlights the recent advances in the field of mesoionic N-heterocyclic olefins (mNHOs).

Metal nanoclusters, a third-generation electrochemiluminescence candidate, are demonstrated to show broad prospects in sensing applications.

This perspective applies descriptors commonly used for ligands in coordination chemistry to transition metals interacting with extended surfaces.

Stabilization of pnictogens by carbenes, especially heterocyclic carbenes, is a constantly evolving and expanding field of research. In this perspective we summarize recent efforts towards the heavy triad of pnictogens As, Sb and Bi.

The discovery of ferrocene seventy years ago has revolutionised chemical research and opened a way to its applications in diverse fields. These developments are succinctly presented in this perspective.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged among porous materials.

Diaryl ethers form an important class of organic compounds.

The recent advances in the design and development of lysosome-targeting luminescent lanthanide molecular probes for live-cell imaging applications are briefly highlighted.

As the center of fuel cells, electrocatalysts play a crucial role in determining the conversion efficiency from chemical energy to electrical energy.

This perspective article discusses the developments over the last decade, state-of-the-art and future directions of examining actinide chemistry arising from ex situ high pressure and high temperature conditions.

Crystal engineering is used for property modification of organic solids via cocrystallization with inorganic salts, to tackle chiral resolution, enzyme inhibition and antimicrobial resistance in a frame of cross-disciplinary scientific expertise.

This perspective summarizes the recent advances in the structures and applications of thorium-based metal–organic frameworks and molecular clusters.

Organoplatinum complexes with hydrogen bond donors as substituents undergo self assembly to form interesting molecular materials, such as a polyrotaxane.

For CO₂ reduction by molecular catalysts, beneficial decreases in overpotential (η_eff) are often correlated with detrimental decreases in activity (TOF_max). This perspective explores design strategies to break these molecular scaling relationships.

A comprehensive understanding of the hydrothermal synthesis of facet-controlled CeO₂-based nanomaterials and their facet-dependent performance in catalytic applications.

Bifunctional activation of the greenhouse gases, CO₂ and N₂O, using bimetallic complexes or mononuclear complexes using binuclear reaction pathways is reviewed.

This review summarizes the recent developments of luminescent tetra-coordinated (O,O-, N,C- N,O- and N,N-) boron compounds.

Janus MOFs holds a novel strategy in overcoming the shortcomings of conventional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as well as non-porous Janus nanoparticles by exhibiting non-centrosymmetry and multi-functionality.

The progress in the design and synthesis of ruthenium-nitrosyl complexes, the role of photoinduced linkage isomerization in NO photorelease and possible medical and optical applications are discussed.

The amino acid residue methionine (Met) is often thought of as a ligand in redox metalloproteins, but its roles and interactions can be much more diverse.

Lindqvist hexamolybdates with organoimido functionalization offer the possibility of developing new POM-based organic–inorganic hybrid materials.

This article summarizes recent findings in the field of transition metal-mediated nitrene coupling catalysis through the lens of mechanistic and structure–activity studies, and highlights unsolved challenges in the field.

Recent progress of noble metal-free electrocatalysts toward large-current-density water electrolysis has been summarized

A review covering the past five years of research into photoactive molecules that release a potential therapeutic upon light irradiation.

The wonderfully varied coordination chemistry of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with paramagnetic transition and lanthanide metal ions is reviewed, focussing on the polymetallic clusters made in Edinburgh.

Common methods for investigating the stability of thermoelectric materials are reviewed. A reporting protocol is proposed to streamline reporting of experimental parameters.

The unique chemistry of 2-phosphaethynolate and 2-arsaethynolate anions, heavier analogues of the cyanate anion, towards main-group elements, d- and f-block metal-based electrophiles, is summarized.

Coordination polymers offer excellent performance as magnetocalorics for cryogenic cooling. Herein the most promising frameworks and trends within are reviewed.

Rationally material-designed hot-electron transfer-type plasmonic photocatalysts and electrodes for the oxygen evolution reaction provide a playing field in artificial photosynthesis.

This Perspective presents and discusses a selection of rhenium-catalysed carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions and rhenium-catalysed reaction cascades of allyl alcohol substrates.

The conformations of cylcohexanepolycarboxylates and auxiliary ligands would regulate the structure of coordination polymers which show interesting properties.

Smart drug delivery systems have been reported to target primary cancers or metastases, where the metallodrugs are released in a controlled and selective way triggered by specific tumour-related stimuli.

Ferroelectricity in various kinds of oxides is discussed based on the chemical bonds between cations and oxygen. Covalency plays a crucial role in the evolution of ferroelectricity in oxides.

Over 200 publications report mechanisms that violate the principle of detailed balancing; a 10-step core mechanism is proposed that avoids these problems.

Pt(IV) complexes are promising antitumor prodrugs releasing active Pt(II) moieties. Multi-functional Pt(IV) complexes contain two or more synergistic moieties. Many Pt(IV) prodrugs show encouraging pharmacological profiles.

A comprehensive review of synthetic uranium oxide hydrate phases focussing on current advances with gap analysis and perspectives for potential future studies.

This perspective paper presents the synthesis and applications of bimetallic complexes merging (four possible ways) a metallocene and a (cyclopentadienyl/aryl)pincer metal complex, with representative examples of the four ways discussed in detail.

John Dalton is the “face of inorganic chemistry” in the RSC journal Dalton Transactions. Who was he and what did he do?.

Two-photon absorption (TPA) processes are used to induce nitric oxide (NO) delivery from ruthenium nitrosyl complexes.

This review focuses on the latest findings on the photochemical production of H₂ catalyzed by heterometallic complexes.

MOF based trifunctional electrocatalysts producing H₂, O₂ and H₂O.

Light is a critical reagent in photochemical synthesis but rarely considered beyond on or off controls. This Frontier article highlights recent examples where photon delivery is controlled, affording unique reactivity.

The beneficial role of main-group cations [M]ⁿ⁺ brought by nucleophilic partners in Fe-mediated cross-couplings is highlighted. Examples of synergistic effects of Fe/[M]ⁿ⁺ pairs on the elementary steps of the catalytic processes are discussed.

The encounter complex underpins small-molecule activation and catalysis by frustrated Lewis pairs. This article explores the variety of computational and experimental techniques that have probed this ephemeral species.