Themed collection 2016 Emerging Investigators
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Contributors to the Emerging Investigators issue 2016
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 8897-8905
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC90290A
Modelling spin Hamiltonian parameters of molecular nanomagnets
With significant development in the computational methods applied to open-shell systems and tremendous improvements in computing resources, molecular modelling has become an integral part of the study of molecular magnetism. In this feature study, we have attempted to provide a bird's-eye view of the modelling of various spin Hamiltonian parameters of molecular nanomagnets.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 8972-9008
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC01251E
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Exploiting redox activity in metal–organic frameworks: concepts, trends and perspectives
This feature article highlights latest developments in experimental, theoretical and computational concepts relevant to redox-active metal–organic Frameworks.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 8957-8971
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00805D
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On the outside looking in: redefining the role of analytical chemistry in the biosciences
Analytical chemistry has much to offer to an improved understanding of biological systems.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 8918-8934
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00128A
Bioreductive fluorescent imaging agents: applications to tumour hypoxia
The development of new optical chemosensors for various reductases presents an ideal approach to visualise areas of tissue hypoxia.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 8935-8956
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC01037G
Organic nanophotonic materials: the relationship between excited-state processes and photonic performances
Organic active nanophotonics: excited-state coupled photonic behaviours strongly determine the optical performances of organic nanomaterials. The photonic actions and related material properties can be well controlled by tailoring the intra/inter-molecular excited-state processes.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 8906-8917
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00018E
Photoelectrochemical study of p-GaP(100)|ZnO|AuNP devices: strategies for enhanced electron transfer and aqueous catalysis
We report a photocathode device consisting of GaP, a metal oxide (Al2O3 or ZnO), a phosphonate-C12-thiol monolayer, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9145-9148
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00703A
Small-pore driven high capacitance in a hierarchical carbon via carbonization of Ni-MOF-74 at low temperatures
Low temperature carbonization of Ni-MOF-74 yields carbon with high specific capacitance linked to the presence of very small micropores.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9141-9144
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC02252A
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Pt(II) coordination complexes as visible light photocatalysts for the oxidation of sulfides using batch and flow processes
A new catalytic system for the photooxidation of sulfides based on Pt(II) complexes is presented.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9137-9140
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC02452A
Observation of uniform ligand environments and 31P–197Au coupling in phosphine-terminated Au nanoparticles
Phosphine-terminated gold nanoparticles exhibit unexpectedly uniform ligand environments that enable the identification of 31P–197Au coupling for the first time in these systems.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9020-9023
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00464D
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Re-engineering a NiFe hydrogenase to increase the H2 production bias while maintaining native levels of O2 tolerance
A single site amino acid exchange yields a NiFe hydrogenase with increased bias towards hydrogen production but conserved oxygen tolerance.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9133-9136
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00515B
Passive tumour targeting and extravasation of cylindrical polymer brushes in mouse xenografts
The passive tumour targeting and extravasation performance of PEGMA-based cylindrical polymer brushes was investigated, including their behaviour upon changes to their aspect ratio.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9121-9124
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00447D
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Selective partial hydrogenation of alkynes to (Z)-alkenes with ionic liquid-doped nickel nanocatalysts at near ambient conditions
A selective hydrogenation method for forming (Z)-alkenes from alkynes has been developed using a catalyst system of cheap Ni-NPs in a nitrile functionalised imidazolium based ionic liquid (IL) operating under very mild reaction conditions of 30–50 °C and 1–4 bar H2 pressure.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9129-9132
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00499G
Dynamic covalent assembly and disassembly of nanoparticle aggregates
A new type of dynamic covalent nanoparticle (NP) building block is reported, exhibiting rapid constitutional adaptation in a NP-bound monolayer of boronate esters, and formation of covalently linked NP assemblies, which despite being connected by covalent bonds, can be fully disassembled on application of a chemical stimulus.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9117-9120
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00135A
Synthesis of aryl trimethylstannanes from aryl halides: an efficient photochemical method
An efficient transition-metal-free photochemical method featuring excellent functional group tolerance, mild reaction conditions and short reaction times has been discovered and developed for the synthesis of (hetero)aryl trimethylstannanes from (hetero)aryl halides.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9125-9128
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC01135G
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Exploiting the equilibrium dynamics in the self-assembly of inorganic macrocycles based upon polyoxothiometalate building blocks
Manipulation of the equilibrium dynamics allowed access to new thermodynamic minima and formation of two new inorganic macrocycles, {Mo16} = {(Mo2O2S2)8(OH)16(C4O4)2}4− and {Mo12} = {(Mo2O2S2)6(OH)12(CH3COO)2}2−.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9109-9112
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC01041E
Integration of protein tethering in a rapid and label-free SERS screening platform for drugs of abuse
This report proposes a label-free, versatile approach for screening drugs of abuse using a combination of protein tethering and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9016-9019
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00518G
Synthesis of high molecular weight polyethylene using iminopyridyl nickel catalysts
Polyethylene with a molecular weight of more than one million could be generated using iminopyridyl nickel catalysts.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9113-9116
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00457A
Electron trapping on Fe3+ sites in photodoped ZnO colloidal nanocrystals
Experimental study of photodoped colloidal Fe-doped ZnO quantum dots suggest electrons trap on Fe3+ sites before accumulating in the ZnO conduction band.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9101-9104
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00514D
Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropenes
We report the first study of ROMP of 1,2-CPs, which yielded narrowly dispersed polymers but exhibited a surprising slow termination reaction.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9097-9100
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00466K
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Cyclopentadiene-mediated hydride transfer from rhodium complexes
Attempts to generate a proposed rhodium hydride catalytic intermediate instead resulted in isolation of (Cp*H)Rh(bpy)Cl (1), a pentamethylcyclopentadiene complex, formed by C–H bond-forming reductive elimination from the fleeting rhodium hydride.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9105-9108
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00575F
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A highly selective fluorogenic probe for the detection and in vivo imaging of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase
Fine-tuning the BODIPY chemical structure to develop a highly selective fluorophore for Cu/Zn SOD.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9093-9096
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00095A
Stabilization of plasmon resonance in Cu2−xS semiconductor nanoparticles
Tetrathiomolybdate prevents the spontaneous and oxygen-induced change in copper vacancy concentration that alters near-IR absorption in copper sulphide nanoparticles.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9082-9085
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00503A
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Capsoplexes: encapsulating complexes via guest recognition
A new dinuclear Ni–NHC complex is able to selectively recognise and self-assemble with guests via tennis-ball like encapsulation, exemplarily demonstrated employing halides.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9089-9092
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00507A
Supramolecular pathway selection of perylenediimides mediated by chemical fuels
We demonstrate supramolecular pathway selection of a perylenediimide derivative in aqueous solution using chemically fueled redox reactions to control assembly/disassembly cycles.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9009-9012
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC01192F
Development of a disaggregation-induced emission probe for the detection of RecA inteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
A novel fluorescent sensor with disaggregation-induced emission characteristics has been developed for the detection of RecA inteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9086-9088
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00439C
endo-Functionalized molecular tubes: selective encapsulation of neutral molecules in non-polar media
Four endo-functionalized molecular tubes show high binding affinity and selectivity to neutral molecules.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9078-9081
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00349D
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Flexible macrocycles as versatile supports for catalytically active metal clusters
Here we present three structurally diverse clusters stabilised by the same macrocyclic polyphenol; t-butylcalix[8]arene.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9071-9073
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00478D
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Chemical fragment arrays for rapid druggability assessment
Incorporation of early druggability assessment in the drug discovery process provides a means to prioritize target proteins for high-throughput screening.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9067-9070
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC10457B
Shedding light on an ultra-bright photoluminescent lamellar gold thiolate coordination polymer [Au(p-SPhCO2Me)]n
The first structure elucidation of a lamellar gold thiolate coordination polymer exhibiting intense photoemission (QY ∼ 70%) due to ligand–metal-to-ligand transitions.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9063-9066
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC10448C
Biomass derived solvents for the scalable production of single layered graphene from graphite
Levulinic acid, a biomass derived green and sustainable solvent, was found to exfoliate graphite to single and few layered graphene.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9074-9077
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00256K
Multi-responsive coordination polymers utilising metal-stabilised, dynamic covalent imine bonds
Incorporation of dynamic imine bonds into coordination polymers yields stable polymers that are sensitive to a range of stimuli.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9059-9062
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00500D
Directly linked hydroporphyrin dimers
The synthesis and chemical, photophysical and electrochemical characterisation of directly meso–meso- or meso-β-linked hydroporphyrin (chlorin) dimers is reported.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9056-9058
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00516K
Organic base-catalysed solvent-tuned chemoselective carbotrifluoromethylation and oxytrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes
An unprecedented and efficient organic base-catalysed highly chemoselective carbo- and oxytrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes with Togni's reagent was developed.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9052-9055
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00364H
Molecular level insight on the adsorption of carboxylic acids to oxide nanoparticles in aqueous solution by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) from a liquid microjet is used to follow a chemical reaction at the aqueous-nanoparticle interface.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9040-9043
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC10582J
E–H (E = B, Si, Ge) bond activation of pinacolborane, silanes, and germanes by nucleophilic palladium carbene complexes
The polarity of the Pd–C bond can be tuned by the phosphine substituents of palladium carbene complexes as shown by the reactions of these compounds with silanes.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9048-9051
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC09468B
Synthesis of functionalized amino epoxides by a three-component coupling involving aziridines, arynes and aldehydes
A three-component coupling of arynes, aziridines and aldehydes/isatins resulting in the synthesis of N-aryl α-amino epoxides has been demonstrated.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9044-9047
https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00057F
Radical C–H arylations of (hetero)arenes catalysed by gallic acid
Gallic acid is able to catalyse radical C–H arylations of (hetero)arenes with diazonium salts at room temperature in water–acetone. As gallic acid is present in multiple bio-wastes, this methodology unleashes an alternative method for waste reutilization.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9036-9039
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC09911K
A photoluminescent indium–organic framework with discrete cages and one-dimensional channels for gas adsorption
This microporous structure is a novel 3,4,4-connected structure simultaneously built from the mutually competitive [In(CO2)4] and [Eu2(CO2)4(H2O)4] secondary building units together with the tricarboxylate ligand.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9032-9035
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC10359B
Highly-oriented Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 nanocolumnar heterojunction with improved charge separation for photoelectrochemical water oxidation
A highly-oriented Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 heterojunction photoanode with well-defined morphology is featured for improving charge separation efficiency.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9013-9015
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC09321J
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Fast microwave treatments of single source alkoxides for nanostructured Li-ion battery electrodes
Low cost and green synthetic approach for the preparation of metal alkoxide precursors in the synthesis of phase pure olivine LiFe1−xMnxPO4 (x = 0, 0.5 and 1) and Mn3O4 hausmannite nanostructures through fast microwave and ultrasound-assisted routes.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9028-9031
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC07732J
Carbene-derived α-acyl formamidinium cations: organic molecules with readily tunable multiple redox processes
Singlet carbenes can impart stability, but can also be used to tailor the electrochemical properties of redox-active organic molecules.
Chem. Commun., 2016,52, 9024-9027
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC06322A
About this collection
Now on its sixth year, this annual special issue showcases research carried out by internationally recognised, up-and-coming scientists in the early stages of their independent careers, and who are making outstanding contributions to their respective fields. New articles will be added to this collection as they are published.