Themed collection Editor's Choice – Serena DeBeer

This question and its implications are discussed in detail.

This critical review discusses the thermal and photocatalytic mechanisms of one-, two-, four-, six- and eight-electron reduction of CO₂ with metal complex catalysts.

This minireview summarizes the recent achievements of electrochemical imaging platforms to map cellular functions in biological specimens using electrochemical scanning nano/micro-probe microscopy and 2D chips containing microelectrode arrays.

Combined X-ray free-electron laser techniques pinpoints loci of intersections between potential energy surfaces of a photo-excited 3d transition-metal centered molecule.

Pendent borane Lewis acids provide an avenue for changing a ligand's field strength through acid/base interactions; this strategy was highlighted within a series of biologically-relevant high spin iron hydrides.

Real-time spectroscopic observation of electron transfer-induced protonation reactivity elucidates the role of the second sphere basic site in a H₂ evolution catalyst.

A detailed transient absorption spectroscopy study efficiently correlates charge carrier dynamics with the overall water splitting efficiency in Ta₃N₅ photocatalyst.

The Cu(I)-binding protein NosL functions specifically as an assembly factor for the unique Cu_Z centre of nitrous oxide reductase (N₂OR).

A series of nitrogen K-edge XAS data obtained for coordination complexes of diverse transition metals is used to calibrate computational pre-edge peak energies and to afford estimates of metal–ligand covalencies. The approach is extended to probe an inner-sphere aminyl radical ligand.

A nickel complex was found to be capable of stepwise reducing nitrate to dinitrogen gas using carbon monoxide as the reaction partner.

Eight heterodinuclear catalysts comprising Zn(II) and Mg(II) metal centres show high activity and selectivity for CO₂/epoxide ring-opening copolymerization. Detailed kinetic analyses are reported and a chain-shuttling mechanistic hypothesis proposed.

One amino acid makes the difference between a metalloenzyme and a metalloprotein in two otherwise effectively identical cytochrome P460s.

Phosphofructokinases catalyze the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of fructose-6-phosphate and they are highly regulated.

Structural/electronic influence of metalloenzyme-inspired synthetic heme–peroxo–copper models containing intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.

We present the in-depth determination of the magnetic properties and electronic structure of the luminescent and volatile dysprosium-based single molecule magnet [Dy₂(bpm)(fod)₆] (Hfod = 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione, bpm = 2,2-bipyrimidine).

Resonant and off-resonant Raman Optical Activity signals in the X-ray regime (XROA) are predicted.

Using a combination of two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) and variable temperature Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies the rapid structural isomerization of a five-coordinate ruthenium complex is investigated.

A combined experimental and theoretical approach reveals correlations of metal L-edge X-ray absorption energies to local charge and spin densities.

Loop directed mutagenesis leads to a cupredoxin withthe strongest copper–thiolate bond known to date, high reduction potential and imidazole binding properties.

We report E_m values of (bacterio-)chlorophylls for one-electron reduction in both electron-transfer branches of PbRC, PSI, and PSII.

The (photo) chemical oxidation of a (TAML)Fe^III complex using outer-sphere oxidants results in valence tautomerisation and C–H activation governed by exogenous anions.

Complementary ultrafast techniques provide clear observation of charge hopping between metals in dinuclear complexes.