Themed collection Articles behind our 2025 journal covers

Aziridine is a fascinating core which enables synthesis of diverse N-heterocycles comprising natural product analogs and pharmaceutical candidates.

Nitrogen bridgehead (NBH) is present in many natural products, but studies of synthetic analogues remain unexplored. This review gives an overview of NBH for potential applications.

Solid-state NMR spectra of ¹³C- and ¹⁹F-labelled amphotericin B reveal that seven molecules form an ion channel assembly with ergosterol. Molecular dynamics simulations show this channel generates ion currents consistent with experiments.

Synthesis approaches for tecovirimat API, highlighting pros and cons, summarizing processes for key intermediates, including cycloheptatriene, and evaluating feasibility, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

The effect of amide-mediated hydrogen bonding was examined in two supramolecular polymer backbones based on supramolecular rosettes. The stability of the hydrogen bonds critically depends on the inherent stacking arrangement of the rosettes.

A chemodivergent, stereoselective method for synthesis of cis-4-hydroxyprolines from diastereomerically enriched epoxides is reported.

A fluorescent thymine analogue, ^ThexT, enables visualisation of immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotides in macrophages. Its incorporation site affects TLR9 activation, offering insights into immune response modulation and intracellular DNA tracking.

A straightforward synthetic strategy toward three β-meso-fused porphyrin–pyrene conjugates is presented. The five-ring fused molecules possess intriguing absorption properties and electronics, which are probed spectroscopically and by theory.

Our study shows, by using synthetic multiphosphorylated peptide libraries that specific phosphorylation patterns govern the decision between aggregation and condensation of the R4 domain of the Tau protein.

Four chiral DPP dyes with varying N-substitution symmetry were studied, highlighting how subtle structural changes affect their photo-physical properties in solution and thin films, compared to other classes of DPPs previously investigated.

Triazolium-type N-substituents in α-ABpeptoids stronlgy induce cis amide geometry, enhancing their conformational homogeneity.

Computational analysis of USP7-inhibitor interactions reveals electrostatic forces as the major binding mechanism, with key residues identified. TAAM and DFT calculations provide insights for rational design of selective USP inhibitors.

A palindromic L-leucine/L-arginine peptide foldamer shows stable α-helicity and efficient cellular uptake, offering a promising strategy to enhance the stability and permeability of mid-sized peptide therapeutics.

A study into the influence of solvent on the conformational preferences and crystal packing behaviour of a foldamer is reported. The marked effect of solvent the dimensions of the cavity spaces adopted by these supramolecular scaffolds is identified.

An efficient ligand-free cobalt–copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with primary amides has been reported under aerobic conditions, and a new Co⁰/Co^II-based catalytic cycle for this transformation is also investigated.

The total synthesis of breviscapin B, a norlignan natural product having an unusual 2,2-diaryltetrahydrofuran skeleton, has been achieved via intramolecular dehydrative Williamson ether synthesis as a key step.

1H indazole derivatives with a ketoaryl groups at the 3-position were synthesized by a cyclisation reaction. All derivatives showed phosphorescence and/or double luminescence both in solution and the solid state.

A multidisciplinary study of purine nucleoside selective BuChE inhibitors, covering docking, synthesis, biological evaluation and cytotoxic assays.

6,8-Ditrifluoromethyl halogenated phenazine potently eradicates Gram-positive bacterial biofilm communities that demonstrate innate tolerance to all classes of conventional antibiotics.

A redox-neutral mechanism for Zn-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reaction.

Reductive amination of triglycerides under mild conditions was achieved using a titanium oxide-supported Pt–Mo catalyst. Various triglycerides including cooking oil are transformed into their corresponding fatty amines.

A dialkoxybenzyl linker for the synthesis of peptide hydrazides, with a selective cleavage property, enhances HPLC purification efficiency.

A simple, sustainable and scalable electrochemical method providing direct access to a highly diverse range of 3-(acylamidoalkyl)-2,1-benzisoxazoles by cathodic reduction of widely accessible nitro arenes was established.

Selective oxidation of alcohols was achieved by analyzing the yields of carboxylic acids as a function of weight hourly space velocity.

A protocol for synthesizing 3-thiomethyl substituted benzofuran derivatives via cyclization of 2-alkynyl anisole using DMTSF as the electrophile was developed.

A metal, base and additive free C–O bond formation strategy for the synthesis of oxime ethers from various oxime derivatives and tertiary and secondary aryl alcohols in the presence of HFIP at 30 °C is developed.

Stereoselective syntheses of 16 triazole-based 1-deoxysphingosine dual SphK inhibitors incorporating different systematic modifications highlight heptafluoropropyl and guanidinium motifs towards improving SphK2 inhibition.

Heteroduplexes comprised of densely intercalator-modified oligodeoxyribonucleotides and LNAs (locked nucleic acids) enable highly specific mixed-sequence recognition of double-stranded DNA regions.

An unfolding–refolding cycle of albumin is accomplished by using a pH jump based on the time-dependent decarboxylation of nitroacetic acid.