Themed collection Celebrating excellence in research: women of organic chemistry

35 items
Review Article

A nano-catalytic approach for C–B bond formation reactions

Nanoparticle-catalysed borylation is one of the most convenient methods for the synthesis of organoboranes to overcome the confines of homogeneous catalysis such as recyclability and heavy metal contamination.

Graphical abstract: A nano-catalytic approach for C–B bond formation reactions
Review Article

The Piancatelli reaction and its variants: recent applications to high added-value chemicals and biomass valorization

The conversion of furfuryl alcohols by the Piancatelli reaction (and its C- and N-variants) provided highly functionalized cyclopentenones (intermolecular) and spirocycles (intramolecular).

Graphical abstract: The Piancatelli reaction and its variants: recent applications to high added-value chemicals and biomass valorization
Review Article

Advances in chemoselective intermolecular cross-benzoin-type condensation reactions

An exhaustive and critical overview of synthetically relevant methods for intermolecular cross-acyloin condensation reactions is reported.

Graphical abstract: Advances in chemoselective intermolecular cross-benzoin-type condensation reactions
Review Article

Enantioselective magnesium-catalyzed transformations

This review updates the major progress in the field of enantioselective transformations promoted by chiral magnesium catalysts, covering the literature since 2007, illustrating the power of these green catalysts to promote many types of reactions.

Graphical abstract: Enantioselective magnesium-catalyzed transformations
Review Article

Spatial organization of multi-enzyme biocatalytic cascades

Multi-enzyme cascades provide a wealth of valuable chemicals. Efficiency of reaction schemes can be improved by spatial organization of biocatalysts. This review will highlight various methods of spatial organization of biocatalysts: fusion, immobilization, scaffolding and encapsulation.

Graphical abstract: Spatial organization of multi-enzyme biocatalytic cascades
Review Article

Recent advances in organocatalytic enantioselective transfer hydrogenation

Robust, environmentally friendly reductants enable highly enantioselective reactions in the presence of chiral catalysts.

Graphical abstract: Recent advances in organocatalytic enantioselective transfer hydrogenation
Communication

Streamlined chemoenzymatic total synthesis of prioritized ganglioside cancer antigens

Highly efficient streamlined total synthesis of complex prioritized gangliosides was achieved chemoenzymatically by sequential one-pot multienzyme (OPME) reactions with facile C18 cartridge purification schemes followed by high-yield acylation.

Graphical abstract: Streamlined chemoenzymatic total synthesis of prioritized ganglioside cancer antigens
From the themed collection: Chemical Biology in OBC
Communication

Enzyme-instructed self-assembly with photo-responses for the photo-regulation of cancer cells

Enzyme-instructed self-assembly was regulated by photo-irradiation to turn on the fluorescence as well as to induce a disassembly process.

Graphical abstract: Enzyme-instructed self-assembly with photo-responses for the photo-regulation of cancer cells
Communication

Pd-Catalyzed double N-arylation of primary amines to synthesize phenoxazines and phenothiazines

Pd-Catalyzed tandem N-arylation of primary amines with aryl halides to synthesize phenoxazine and phenothiazine derivatives.

Graphical abstract: Pd-Catalyzed double N-arylation of primary amines to synthesize phenoxazines and phenothiazines
Open Access Communication

Identification of new DNA i-motif binding ligands through a fluorescent intercalator displacement assay

This work describes a new way to screen for i-motif binding compounds and several new families of ligands with potential for use in experiments into the structure and function of i-motif DNA.

Graphical abstract: Identification of new DNA i-motif binding ligands through a fluorescent intercalator displacement assay
Open Access Communication

Imidazolium-labeled glycosides as probes to harness glycosyltransferase activity in human breast milk

Imidazolium-labeled (ITag-) glycosides have been used to harness the glycosyltransferase activity directly from human breast milk (HBM). The technology is exemplified in the synthesis of biologically relevant oligosaccharide analogs, ITag-LacNAc, ITag-Lewisx and ITag-Lewisa, in a matter of days from (HBM) without isolating the enzymes.

Graphical abstract: Imidazolium-labeled glycosides as probes to harness glycosyltransferase activity in human breast milk
Communication

Direct palladium-mediated on-resin disulfide formation from Allocam protected peptides

We present a mild, convenient method for direct conversion of Allocam protected peptides to disulfide-containing protected peptides on solid support.

Graphical abstract: Direct palladium-mediated on-resin disulfide formation from Allocam protected peptides
Paper

Why do A·T and G·C self-sort? Hückel aromaticity as a driving force for electronic complementarity in base pairing

Computations reveal that the potential for aromaticity gain and loss in nucleobases play key roles in modulating base pairing strengths.

Graphical abstract: Why do A·T and G·C self-sort? Hückel aromaticity as a driving force for electronic complementarity in base pairing
Open Access Paper

Campestarenes: new building blocks with 5-fold symmetry

New campestarene derivatives bear functional groups designed to facilitate the formation of supramolecular assemblies of these 5-fold symmetric building blocks.

Graphical abstract: Campestarenes: new building blocks with 5-fold symmetry
From the themed collection: Supramolecular chemistry in OBC
Paper

Unraveling the 4n − 1 rule for DNA i-motif stability: base pairs vs. loop lengths

The 4n − 1 repeat pattern for poly-2′-deoxycytidine i-motifs results from ideal loop lengths and core base pairs.

Graphical abstract: Unraveling the 4n − 1 rule for DNA i-motif stability: base pairs vs. loop lengths
From the themed collection: Chemical Biology in OBC
Paper

Time-lapse monitoring of TLR2 ligand internalization with newly developed fluorescent probes

Bacterial lipopeptide fluorescent probes were developed as TLR2 ligands, and their time-lapse monitoring of cellular internalization was performed.

Graphical abstract: Time-lapse monitoring of TLR2 ligand internalization with newly developed fluorescent probes
Paper

Synthesis of plasmodione metabolites and 13C-enriched plasmodione as chemical tools for drug metabolism investigation

A 10-step synthesis of the antimalarial lead, 13C18-enriched plasmodione, and of seven putative metabolites is described.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of plasmodione metabolites and 13C-enriched plasmodione as chemical tools for drug metabolism investigation
Paper

A visible-light photocatalytic thiolation of aryl, heteroaryl and vinyl iodides

A method for the light-driven synthesis of aryl and vinyl alkyl thioethers from a range of C(sp2)–I bonds is reported.

Graphical abstract: A visible-light photocatalytic thiolation of aryl, heteroaryl and vinyl iodides
From the themed collection: Synthetic methodology in OBC
Open Access Paper

Fluorescent and colorimetric molecular recognition probe for hydrogen bond acceptors

We report on the development of a dual molecular recognition probe for hydrogen bond acceptors.

Graphical abstract: Fluorescent and colorimetric molecular recognition probe for hydrogen bond acceptors
Paper

Computational insights into active site shaping for substrate specificity and reaction regioselectivity in the EXTL2 retaining glycosyltransferase

QM(DFT)/MM calculations and molecular dynamics simulations on wild-type retaining α1,4-N-acetylhexosaminyltransferase (EXTL2) and Arg293Ala, Asp246Ala, Arg293Ala/Asp246Ala and Asp246Glu mutants are used to understand the role of these two residues.

Graphical abstract: Computational insights into active site shaping for substrate specificity and reaction regioselectivity in the EXTL2 retaining glycosyltransferase
Paper

Pseudouridine modifications influence binding of aminoglycosides to helix 69 of bacterial ribosomes

Pseudouridine modifications in helix 69 of bacterial ribosomes impact aminoglycoside interactions by altering the RNA conformational states and accessibility to chemical probes.

Graphical abstract: Pseudouridine modifications influence binding of aminoglycosides to helix 69 of bacterial ribosomes
Open Access Paper

The templation effect as a driving force for the self-assembly of hydrogen-bonded peptidic capsules in competitive media

Complexation of a hydrophobic guest induces the self-assembly of peptide based cavitands to form hydrogen-bonded ordered capsules in polar solvents.

Graphical abstract: The templation effect as a driving force for the self-assembly of hydrogen-bonded peptidic capsules in competitive media
Paper

Synthesis of functionalized indolizines via gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation/aromatization of pyrrole-ynes

Gold-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation/aromatization of pyrrole-ynes to functionalized indolizines through the construction of the pyridine ring of indolizines has been developed.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of functionalized indolizines via gold(i)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation/aromatization of pyrrole-ynes
Paper

Deuteration and tautomeric reactivity of the 1-methyl functionality of free-base dipyrrins

Regioselective reactivity of the 1-methyl group of free-base dipyrrins is explored, including discussion of tautomerism to provide exocyclic alkenyl reactivity.

Graphical abstract: Deuteration and tautomeric reactivity of the 1-methyl functionality of free-base dipyrrins
Paper

Optimization of a synthetic receptor for dimethyllysine using a biphenyl-2,6-dicarboxylic acid scaffold: insights into selective recognition of hydrophilic guests in water

Introduction of an endo-carboxylate in a building block for dynamic combinatorial chemistry resulted in amplification of a new host with a Kd of 200 nM for dimethyllysine, a biologically important post-translational modification.

Graphical abstract: Optimization of a synthetic receptor for dimethyllysine using a biphenyl-2,6-dicarboxylic acid scaffold: insights into selective recognition of hydrophilic guests in water
Paper

Laser flash photolysis of nanocrystalline α-azido-p-methoxy-acetophenone

Irradiation of nanocrystals of azide 1 results in a solid-to-solid photoreaction that forms imine 2 in high chemical yield.

Graphical abstract: Laser flash photolysis of nanocrystalline α-azido-p-methoxy-acetophenone
Paper

Pd-Catalyzed regioselective C–H halogenation of quinazolinones and benzoxazinones

A Pd-catalyzed ortho-selective halogenation of benzoxazinone and quinazolinone scaffolds has been described employing N-halosuccinimide via C–H bond activation.

Graphical abstract: Pd-Catalyzed regioselective C–H halogenation of quinazolinones and benzoxazinones
Paper

Strategy towards the enantioselective synthesis of schiglautone A

The enantioselective synthesis of a functionalized intermediate comprising 6 of the 7 stereocenters of schiglautone A is reported and features a lithiation–borylation enzymatic resolution sequence.

Graphical abstract: Strategy towards the enantioselective synthesis of schiglautone A
Paper

Multi-responsive polypeptide hydrogels derived from N-carboxyanhydride terpolymerizations for delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Multi-responsive polypeptide-based hydrogels exhibited thermo-, mechano-, and enzyme-responsive properties, enabling performance as a delivery system for encapsulation and release of naproxen.

Graphical abstract: Multi-responsive polypeptide hydrogels derived from N-carboxyanhydride terpolymerizations for delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Paper

Copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids and sulfoximines

The formation of N-aroylsulfoximines via a copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids with NH-sulfoximines is reported.

Graphical abstract: Copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids and sulfoximines
Open Access Paper

Exploring the reversal of enantioselectivity on a zinc-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase

Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes catalyse the reversible reduction of prochiral ketones to the corresponding alcohols.

Graphical abstract: Exploring the reversal of enantioselectivity on a zinc-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase
Paper

Synthesis of oxazolidinones: rhodium-catalyzed C–H amination of N-mesyloxycarbamates

N-Mesyloxycarbamates undergo intramolecular C–H amination reactions to afford oxazolidinones in good to excellent yields in the presence of rhodium(II) carboxylate catalysts.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of oxazolidinones: rhodium-catalyzed C–H amination of N-mesyloxycarbamates
Paper

Synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles by cascade annulation of 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines

Divergent synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles from 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines and sulfonyl hydrazides has been described.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles by cascade annulation of 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines
Open Access Paper

Towards the biodegradation pathway of fosfomycin

A degradation intermediate, a pro-metabolite and an enzyme inhibitor have been synthesised to study the biodegradation of fosfomycin in R. huakuii PMY1.

Graphical abstract: Towards the biodegradation pathway of fosfomycin
Paper

Twisting the ethano-Tröger's base: the bisamide

A simple benzylic oxidation of ethano-Tröger's base derivatives affords novel twisted amides for structure and reactivity studies.

Graphical abstract: Twisting the ethano-Tröger's base: the bisamide
35 items

About this collection

To coincide with Vote 100, the centenary of women obtaining the right to vote in the UK, the RSC highlighted 100 top quality articles from women in chemistry, selected by journal editorial teams and editorial board members. However, this was only a small selection of our excellent authors, and there were many more nominations. Here, we highlight some of the high quality research produced by women at the forefront of organic chemistry and chemical biology.

Spotlight

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