Themed collection 2022 Emerging Investigators


Manufacturing polymeric porous capsules
The review paper outlines the current state-of-the-art strategies adopted to fabricate polymeric porous capsules which represent a novel supramolecular construct that broadens the applicability and versatility of self-assembled polymeric systems.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 4409-4419
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC06565C
Introduction to the biomimetic design of interfacial materials for water overflow control
This feature article summarizes the current research on the control of overflow behavior.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 9051-9059
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC03224D
Recent developments in DNA-based mechanical nanodevices
Recent development of DNA nanodevices for the detection and control of mechanical forces in vitro and in a cellular environment.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 4700-4710
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC00302C
Rationally designed Ru(II) metallacycles with tunable imidazole ligands for synergistical chemo-phototherapy of cancer
Herein, we construct a series of Ru(II) metallacycles with multimodal chemo-phototherapeutic properties, which exhibited much higher anticancer activity and better cancer-cell selectivity than cisplatin.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 9068-9071
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC03118C

Photocatalytic stannylation of white phosphorus
A simple, mechanistically unique photochemical procedure is reported for the efficient, direct, catalytic stannylation of P4 and ‘one pot’ transformation into valuable monophosphorus compounds.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 8986-8989
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC03474C
Synergistically promoted charge separation/transfer in a ZnO nanosheet photoanode via the incorporation of multifunctional 3DrGO
This work provides an effective strategy to improve the PEC performance for water splitting of photoanodes via the incorporation of 3D porous architecture rGO with efficient photothermal effect.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 8622-8625
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC02725A
Directional migration propensity of calf thymus DNA in a gradient of metal ions
The migration propensity and spatially modulated surface deposition of calf thymus DNA have been reported in response to gradients of different monovalent and divalent ions.
Chem. Commun., 2022, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC03160D
Unveiling two antiaromatic s-indacenodicarbazole isomers with tunable paratropicity
Two formally antiaromatic s-indacenodicarbazole isomers were synthesized and characterized, to show that the curved isomer possesses a stronger s-indacene paratropicity than that of the linear isomer.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 8492-8495
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC02318K
Color-tunable emissive heptagon-embedded polycyclic aromatic dicarboximides
A series of novel push–pull dyes containing heptagon-embedded polycyclic aromatic dicarboximides show interesting photophysical properties including tunable emissions leading to NIR, high fluorescence quantum yields (ΦF), and large Stokes shifts.
Chem. Commun., 2022, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC03461A
Neutral isocyanide-templated assembly of pillar[5]arene [2] and [3]pseudorotaxanes
Unprecedented pillar[5]arene–isocyanide [2] and [3]pseudorotaxane complexes are reported. Importantly, electron deficient aryl isocyanides are also demonstrated to form inclusion complexes with the cavity of pillar[5]arene.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 7253-7256
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC02255A
Redox noninnocence of the formazanate ligand applied to catalytic formation of α-ketoamides
The redox noninnocence of the popular formazanate ligand backbone has been utilized for electron transfer and further synthesis of α-ketoamide from α-ketoacid and amine.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 6630-6633
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC02089K
Competitive profiling of ligandable cysteines in Staphylococcus aureus with an organogold compound
With the idea of exploiting metal templated C–S bond forming reactions to achieve modification of cysteines in bacterial proteins, a cyclometalated Au(III) compound was explored in a competitive chemoproteomic approach in S. aureus cell extracts.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 5526-5529
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC01259F
A chiral binaphthyl-based coordination polymer as an enantioselective fluorescence sensor
A new coordination polymer has been designed as a chiral fluorescence sensor, which demonstrated enantioselectivity ratios up to 2.61 in the sensing of chiral analytes.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 4512-4515
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC06872E
A tandem process for the synthesis of β-aminoboronic acids from aziridines with haloamine intermediates
Based on a sequential process of haloamine formation and radical borylation, a novel strategy for synthesizing β-aminoboronic acids is devised.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 3767-3770
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC00808D
Atomic controllable anchoring of uranium into zirconate pyrochlore with ultrahigh loading capacity
Unavailable high loading of uranium with controllabe doping site on pyrochlore was achieved through molten salt synthesis.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 3469-3472
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC00576J
Deep eutectic solvents comprising creatine and citric acid and their hydrated mixtures
We report the phase diagram for the binary creatine–citric acid mixture which features a stable and broad eutectic region.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 2838-2841
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC06088K
Donor–acceptor based solvent-free organic liquid hybrids with exciplex emission and room temperature phosphorescence
Solvent-free organic liquids enable doping to deliver hybrid liquids with exciting luminescent features. Here exciplex emission and room temperature phosphorescence are achieved from two donor–acceptor combinations.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 1998-2001
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC07082G
Room temperature synthesis of polythioamides from multicomponent polymerization of sulfur, pyridine-activated alkyne, and amines
Through the design of a pyridine-activated diyne monomer, the catalyst-free multicomponent polymerizations of sulfur, aromatic alkyne, and a group of commercially available primary and secondary diamines were realized at room temperature or 40 °C.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 1994-1997
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC06448G
Secondary-sphere modification in proline catalysis: old friend, new connection
Proline catalysis sparked not only the golden age of organocatalysis, but also the design of elaborate proline derivatives; instead, we propose to modify organocatalysts in situ under reaction conditions.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 1950-1953
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC05589E
Encapsulation of atomically dispersed Pt clusters in porous TiO2 for semi-hydrogenation of phenylacetylene
The multilayered catalyst 1.91%Pt@TiO2 with atomically dispersed Pt clusters shows excellent performance in the semi-hydrogenation of phenylacetylene.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 1191-1194
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC06682J
Chirality inversion in hydrogen-bonded rhodanine–oligothiophene derivatives by solvent and temperature
Inversion of supramolecular chirality with a single enantiomer of a hydrogen-bonded pi-conjugated system is achieved by applying external stimuli such as solvent and temperature.
Chem. Commun., 2022,58, 529-532
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC05945A
About this collection
This annual special collection 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. Join us in celebrating their contributions!
New articles will be added to this collection as they are published.