Introduction

The reports in Volume 107 of Annual Reports Section A draw together in a single, definitive, volume the cutting edge inorganic chemistry published in the primary research literature during 2010. Each chapter is authored by an expert in each field.

The format for Volume 107 is ostensibly the same as that for Volume 106, with authors continuing their contributions in two distinct formats; reviews according to Groups in the periodic table alongside cross-cutting articles in the so-called “Special Topics”. At the beginning of each contribution, our authors have selected the most significant developments in each area, under a “Highlights” heading, allowing the casual reader to access the outstanding pieces of research without having to read each article in depth. For example, in 2010: The first oxide fluoride of xenon(IV), the first examples of dialkyl chloronium ions, the first stable monomeric platinum oxoboranes (B≡O), the first diamagnetic square planar ruthenium(II) complex and a dodecanuclear Ag₆Pt₆ molecular ball bearing have all been reported. A hafnium dinitrogen complex has been found to insert CO under mild conditions, NO can be inserted into one of the edges of the P₄ tetrahedron, rectangular and trapezoidal pieces of SmCo have been shown to shim a magnetic field (with implications for portable NMR spectrometers) and a porous intermetallic phase that selectively exchanges Cs⁺ from a mixed solution of cations and encapsulates it by a mechanism like that of the Venus flytrap has been discovered. The X-ray structures of the entire N-terminal E1domain of the amyloid precursor protein and a RNA polymerase II transcribing complex stalled at the monofunctional pyriplatin site (providing an insight into the mechanism of transcription inhibition) have been resolved, whilst a chromium(III) nitrito complex has been shown to be a very promising photochemical precursor for nitric oxide delivery to physiological targets, and a novel and water-dispersed derivative of the C₆₀-neodymium nanoparticle has shown great potential for inducing autophagy and sensitising chemotherapeutic killing of cancer cells.

Our Feature Article this year by Andrew Houlton and Scott Watson describes the current state-of-the-art research on the synthesis and characterisation of electrically conducting DNA-based nanowires, including a fascinating insight into the key challenges researchers in this area face in order for nanoscale electronics to be realised through bottom-up assembly.

Throughout this volume, the vibrancy of inorganic chemistry in its own right and at the interface with other disciplines is amply demonstrated. There can be no doubt that chemistry thrives across all boundaries and, in this respect, inorganic chemists are amongst the leaders.

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