Themed collection 2018 Chemical Science HOT Article Collection

An Fe corrole is shown to bind to the amyloid-beta peptide and limit reactive oxygen species generation and peptide aggregation of relevance to Alzheimer's disease.

In this work, a novel NIR two-photon fluorescence probe DCM-APN is reported for tracking APN in vitro and in vivo.

Electrocatalytic reduction of low concentration CO₂ was selectively and efficiently carried out by using a Re(I) complex with high CO₂-capturing ability.

The unusual ferromagnetically coupled compound was prepared by the use of Me₃SiN₃ with the metal ions being exclusively bridged by end-on N₃⁻. Th cationic molecule is a rare example of a 3d-metal cluster exhibiting a “Janus”-faced SMM behavior for the dried and wet forms.

A single lattice vibration at 15.5 cm⁻¹ serves as a gateway for the polymorphic conversion of thermosalient 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene crystals.

Storage of electrons in the Ti₈O₈ nodes of MOF MIL-125 is controlled by the presence of charge-balancing Na⁺ cations.

The application of large M₁₂L₂₄ nanospheres allows the pre-concentration of catalysts to reach high local concentrations, facilitating reactions that proceed through dinuclear mechanisms.

A FRET-based method was developed for monitoring metal–amyloid-β complexation and identifying inhibitors against such interaction.

Visible-light-induced oxidative cyclization of a phenanthrene framework overcomes immense strain to yield a bilayer perylene-diimide helicene.

A new method for detecting polymerization and amplifying initiator signals is established by fluorogenic atom transfer radical polymerization.

Stimuli-responsive polyacrylamide hydrogels crosslinked by glucosamine–boronate/G-quadruplexes or azobenzene-functionalized DNA reveal controlled stiffness using chemical or photochemical triggers.

We report a soluble yet crystalline covalent organic framework (COF) by regulation of inter-layer interactions, which endows the COF with remarkable solubility and processability of thin films for optoelectronic devices that exhibit high yet anisotropic conductivities and outperform all the other COF-based semiconductors.

The involvement of drugs in direct chemical reactions with lipids may be linked to toxic effects in liver cell lines.

We report an efficient and economical method for remote δ C(sp³)–H heteroarylation of free aliphatic alcohols using a hypervalent iodine PFBI-OH oxidant under photoredox catalysis.

Photocatalytic dehalogenation by a common dyestuff under aqueous conditions is driven by energy-additive absorption of two photons on the single-molecule level.

Single Ru atoms are uniquely located on the top of trivalence Fe atom of NiFe layered double hydroxide.

By developing lithium-ion-active aerolysin, for the first time we have achieved aerolysin detection of single-stranded DNA longer than 100 nt.

We are introducing nuclear spin singlet multimers which are molecules that contain several nuclear singlet states that can be populated at the same time.

Polyelectrolyte/microemulsion complexes (PEMECs) are very versatile hybrid systems, combining high loading capacities of microemulsions with larger-scale structuring induced by polyelectrolytes.

Herein we report a combined experimental and computational investigation of the acid catalyzed cyclocondensation reaction between styrenyl homoallylic alcohols and salicylaldehyde to form furanochromanes.

We describe an enzyme-regulated liberation strategy to in situ generate AIEgen nanoaggregates for on-site sensing and long-term tracking of β-galactosidase in ovarian cancer cells.

A post-transition state bifurcation (PTSB) involved in a Pummerer-type rearrangement is characterized using density functional theory (DFT) calculations on potential energy stationary points and direct dynamics simulations.

The direct Ir(III)-catalyzed ortho C–H alkylations of (hetero)aromatic aldehydes have been accomplished using aniline as the transient ligand and alkyl boron reagents as the coupling partner.

The generation of stable enhanced light emission by electrochemiluminescence in microfabricated nanofluidic electrochemical devices is demonstrated for the first time by exploiting nanogap amplification.

A highly thermostable carbonatoperoxovanadate, Cs₃VO(O₂)₂CO₃, exhibits a remarkably strong SHG response of approximately 23.0 times that of KDP, which is the largest among those of the reported NLO carbonate materials.

Highly efficient synthesis of biomimetic peptoid sequences enables the rapid design and optimization of chelating ligands for multimetallic clusters.

Carbon-coated Ni nanoparticles supported on N-doped carbon enable efficient electroreduction of CO₂ to CO comparable to single Ni sites.

A SERS based biosensor has been developed for isolation, detection and killing of multiple bacterial pathogens.

A high-performance lithium-ion–sulfur battery has been built by using a carbon supported Li-rich alloy anode and sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (S@pPAN) cathode.

A general approach to the functionalization of aliphatic C–Si bonds in the presence of silver salts and oxidants has been reported.

2D coordination polymers grow spontaneously on reactive surfaces due to surface oxidation. The growth process is observed in real time.

Complex arrangements of tetraphenylethylene motifs resulted in a variety of chiralities of face-rotating sandwich structures (FRSs).

Overall molecular shape, rather than any specific noncovalent interactions, controls the preferential crystallisation of shapeshifting barbaralane isomers from dynamic mixtures.

meta-Trisazobenzenes allow for wavelength-selective photo-switching of the individual azobenzene branches.

Single white light-emitting polymers with a record power efficiency of 52.1 lm W⁻¹ are realized by energy-level engineering of poly(arylene phosphine oxide)-based phosphorescent polymers.

Here, by combining machine learning with the latest stochastic surface walking (SSW) global optimization, we explore for the first time the potential energy surface of β-B.

We present molecular magnetic systems that contain all elements necessary for spin-valve control in molecular spintronic devices in a single molecule.

A highly compact and self-sustained in vitro “diagnosis-therapy-evaluation” platform is developed by integrating a glucose/O₂ fuel cell-based biosensor with a drug delivery system.

An evolutionary algorithm is developed and used to search for shape persistent porous organic cages.

The fluorescence of fluorescent proteins with noncovalently encapsulated chromophore is enhanced by complex interactions between chromophore, protein and bound water.

Four effective probes with turn-off to turn-on fluorescence switches were successfully applied for sensing H₂S.

A catalytic γ-selective syn-hydroarylation of alkenyl carbonyl compounds using arylboronic acids has been developed using a substrate directivity approach with a palladium(II) catalyst.

Ion-mobility mass spectrometry and DFT calculations reveal the surprisingly solvent-dependent formation of large pentameric [N⋯I⁺⋯N] halogen-bonded capsules.

We investigated the binding mechanism of PI(4,5)P₂ and variants on the inwardly rectifying potassium channel, Kir2.2. Our results not only demonstrated the molecular origin for their binding specificity, but also revealed the major driving forces.

A fast NMR data acquisition strategy is explored to detect and characterize carbocations on solid zeolites.

ClO1, a ratiometric fluorescent probe, effectively captured endogenous HClO in the lungs of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation mouse model after intravenous administration.

A glycopeptide bearing a bisecting glucosamine, a rare N-glycan branch, and two Lewis^X trisaccharides was synthesized for the first time.

FRET and rolling circle amplification outperform RT-qPCR for microRNA diagnostics in clinical samples.

A series of rare earth complexes of the form Ln(L^R)₃ supported by bidentate ortho-aryloxide–NHC ligands are reported (L^R = O(o-C₆H₂–^tBu₂-2,6-CN(C₂H₂)NR); R = ⁱPr, ^tBu, Mes; Ln = Ce, Sm, Eu).

A convenient, miniaturized reverse electrodialysis battery to provide long-lasting and reliable ionic electricity is developed.

Organic molecules such as steroids or amino acids form crystals that can facilitate the formation of ice – arguably the most important phase transition on earth.

Quantum mechanical simulations unequivocally explain experimental IR spectra of protonated supramolecular systems.

The first direct syntheses, structural characterizations, and reactivity studies of multinuclear iron–phenyl species formed upon reaction of Fe(acac)₃ and PhMgBr in THF are described.

The identification of trace components from an individual cell can require derivatization under mild conditions for successful analysis by mass spectrometry (MS).

Chimera enables multi-target optimization for experimentation or expensive computations, where evaluations are the limiting factor.

Microscale uniformity and long-range cohesion in multi-functional films assembled through drop-casting is realized by in situ gelation of monodisperse building blocks.

The double-faced Janus lectin, designed by assembling sialic acid and fucose-specific lectin, organize multivalent heteroglyco compounds in mulitlayered material, and glycosylated protocells in prototissues.

A palladium(II)-catalysed C(sp³)–H carbonylation of free(NH) secondary aliphatic amines to 2-pyrrolidinones is described.

A 4-aminoquinoline-based molecular tweezer was developed as a synthetic receptor for protoporphyrin IX and iron(III) protoporphyrin IX, and applied as a supramolecular photosensitizer.

Alcohol dehydrogenase with a dual role: host for metal catalysts and enzyme for ketone reduction.

Synthetic biology techniques coupled with heterologous secondary metabolite production offer opportunities for the discovery and optimisation of natural products.

Enzymes that are capable of detoxifying halogenated phenols (HPs) and nitrophenols (NPs) are valuable for bioremediation and waste biorefining.

Aptamer conjugated porphyrinic metal–organic framework (MOF) achieved target-induced bioimaging and photodynamic therapy.

Electrical conductors are made from flat grid clusters of copper using mixed-valency and supramolecular interactions between the enveloping organic ligands.

Integration of multi-omics analyses uncovers the dynamic responses of H. pylori upon bismuth treatment.

We describe a kind of Zr(IV)-based nano-MOF that is well suited for specific adsorption and selective fluorescence sensing of phosphate based on specific interactions between Zr(IV) and phosphate which provides a new approach for treatment of hyperphosphatemia.

Tikitericin, a novel lanthipeptide was isolated and characterised together with its first total synthesis.

The simplest way to produce large graphene sheets starting from simple molecules (benzene or n-hexane) under ambient conditions (temperature and pressure).

By successively replacing H⁺ by Na⁺ or K⁺ in phosphopeptide anions and cations, we show that the efficiency of fragmentation into c and z˙ or c˙ and z fragments from N–Cα backbone bond cleavage by negative ion electron capture dissociation (niECD) and electron capture dissociation (ECD) substantially decreases with increasing number of alkali ions attached.

A 15 valence-electron Fe(I) species rapidly and reversibly binds N₂ and H₂, the latter producing a rare paramagnetic dihydrogen complex.