Themed collection Editor’s Collection

Polypeptide cyclisation can enhance thermal stability, proteolytic resistance and membrane permeability. Cyclisation can be achieved by methods including chemical, enzyme and protein tag approaches. Each has strengths and limitations.

This review showcases a collective depiction on the potential utility of BCF as a versatile catalyst to develop various synthetic transformations.

The recently reported physicochemical properties and applications of single-benzene-based fluorophores (SBBFs) are summarized.

An emerging approach for the synthesis of O-aryl glycosides and carbohydrate-derived aryl ethers via C(sp²)–O bond formation is reviewed.

Olefin 1,2-difunctionalization is a popular synthetic strategy for synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols and their derivatives. This comprehensive review covers methods developed beyond the pioneering osmium-catalyzed Sharpless amino hydroxylation.

We review hybrid systems of abiotic catalysis and enzymatic catalysis, which function in living cells. This research direction will stimulate multidisciplinary fields, including complex molecule synthesis, energy production, and life science.

Direct carbonylation of the C–H bond is a great tool for installing a carbonyl group in a wide variety of substrates.

This review encompasses the developments in sulfonimidate chemistry, focusing on both syntheses and applications of these important organosulfur(VI) species.

Guidelines based on photophysical tuning, reactivity, isomerization, and energy transfer for rational design of synthetic fluorescent probes for biological systems.

This account provides an chronological overview of the fascinating history of the pigment responsible for the yellow colour of the Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule).

The field of protein bioconjugation draws attention from stakeholders in chemistry, biology, and medicine. This review provides an overview of the present status, challenges, and opportunities for organic chemists.

Two-color Raman imaging of D-alkynes and H-alkynes makes it possible to distinguish and observe similar small molecules in live cells.

Liposomes equipped at the outer membrane with positively charged calixarenes show improved efficiency in cargo delivery. This is facilitated by the interaction between the macrocycle units and heparan sulfate proteoglycans surrounding the cell.

Supramolecular M- and P-helices are formed via intermolecular S⋯S and S⋯O chalcogen bonding of alanine-based azapeptides containing a β-turn structure and equipped with a thiophene group at the N- or C-terminus, respectively.

The encapsulation of discrete water molecules in flexible sheet-like aromatic oligoamide foldamers, as evidenced by structural and spectroscopic studies, stabilizes their structure.

We report the unexpected acceleration of strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition in human plasma compared to classical solvent systems. Besides fast kinetics, human plasma also allows for discrimination between two azides in competition reaction.

The synergy of an Ir-based photosensitizer with mild oxidizing ability and a thiol catalyst enables efficient allylic C–H functionalization of enol silyl ethers with imines under visible light irradiation.

Ethyl thioglycosides could be selectively activated in the presence of phenyl thioglycosides carrying the same or even more armed protecting group pattern.

Aqueous Knoevenagel condensation of various aldehydes with malononitrile could efficiently proceed using hydroquinone and benzoquinone as mixed catalysts.

Site-directed addition of a single thiols handle to proteins by means of temporary disulphide rebridging of solvent exposed disulphides is obtained with a new labelling reagent.

Supramolecular protection of N-terminal aromatic amino acids through complexation with cucurbit[7]uril can enable site-selective protein modification of unfavored motifs.

A genetically incorporated ThrK unnatural amino acid can undergo rapid periodate oxidation to reveal a reactive internal α-oxo aldehyde.

Inversion of the amide connectivity of an azobenzene dyad, which self-assembles into chiral toroids and nanotubes, improves the thermal stability of the assemblies, however it negatively affects supramolecular chirality.

Various small molecules containing boronic acid and urea functionalities are shown to bind selectively to the bacterial lipid PG (phosphatidylglycerol) and exert antibacterial activity through a membrane-related mechanism.

We present a strategy for characterising and preventing the undesired folding between adjacent units in duplex-forming synthetic hetero-oligomers.

An air-stable, Zn²⁺-based catalyst for catalytic hydrosilylation reactions of alkenes and alkynes.

pH-Rate profiles indicate hydrated M²⁺ as a general acid in the catalytic mechanism of the RNA-cleaving 8–17 DNAzyme.

Multiple deoxyfluorination of GlcNAc/GalNAc hemiacetals generated cytotoxic compounds.

Functionalized peptides which consist of myostatin-binding peptide and on/off-switchable catalyst efficiently inhibit myostatin by selective photooxygenation, leading to a therapeutic strategy for muscular atrophic disorders.

In vitro selection identifies DNAzymes that acylate amino groups, including Lys in tethered peptides, and in some cases by transfer of a small glutaryl group.

A novel strategy for the efficient and cheap post-modification of oligonucleotides at internal position.

A one-pot neopentyl deprotection and oxidative disulfide pairing strategy was developed for the facile synthesis of sulfotyrosine (sY)-containing α-conotoxins (Ctx).

A systematic investigation into the effects of acids and hydrogen bond acceptors on the reaction rates and equilibria of enamine formation is reported.

Aromatic oligoamide double helices bearing a chiral oxazolylaniline moiety were synthesized and their helix handedness was completely controlled (de > 99%).

Experimental and computational agreement highlights rate-limiting “product decomplexation” and functional group effects in the thiol-Michael addition, utilized for sequence-defined oligomers.

An efficient oxetane formation has been developed in the photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of benzophenone with Danishefsky diene.

Combinations of aryl azides and trans-cyclooctenes have been studied in a bioorthogonal click-and-release strategy, with two reaction pairings rapidly releasing phenol at micromolar concentrations.

[5]Rotaxanes prepared in a one-pot reaction via simultaneous threading-followed-by-stoppering and condensation can be used to generate different co-conformational states making these systems potential multi-state switches.