Themed collection 2025 Frontier and Perspective articles

The hexametalate and decametalate structures of niobium and tantalum which have aided development of their chemistry.

The reactions of azides of groups 6–9 with electrophiles are summarised with specific attention to the ways in which the reaction conditions, electrophile type, and steric hindrance affect isomerisation and preference of one isomer over the other(s).

Recent progress in self-supported electrodes with hierarchical structures for water electrolysis is highlighted in this perspective, which addresses potential opportunities and key challenges.

Coke formation causes gradual deactivation of zeolite catalysts, whereas rational design and regeneration strategies enhance their durability.

Nanomaterials have been developed utilizing organosulphur compounds, and the applications of such nanomaterials have been explored in catalysis and electrocatalysis.

This review focuses on heterogeneous organic photocatalysts constructed from π-conjugated monomers, offering structure-driven design strategies tailored to address the key limitations in the field of CO₂ photoreduction.

Does the enzyme nitrogenase retain or displace atom S2B at the active site when it converts N₂ to NH₃?

This review provides a brief review of the literature and future scope of well-defined Zn-complexes for homogeneous catalysis, including borylation, silylation, dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, hydroamination, CO₂ insertion, and many more.

This review provides important guidance for designing high-performance SMMs from the perspective of coordination chemical synthesis involving macrocyclic compounds.

This review focuses on the research progress of the complexes of six metals in the field of combating multidrug-resistant bacteria. It particularly elaborates on their structure–activity–mechanism relationship and clinical potential.

Herein, we review recent developments in the rational design and engineering of one-dimensional tubular-structured composites using MoO₃ micro/nanorods as templates.

Metallophilic interactions remain controversial despite decades of study. This perspective highlights computational progress, unresolved questions, and challenges that continue to inspire the field.

Centered on the versatile MOF and COF materials, this review constructs a structure–performance–material framework for enhancing aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) and providing viable guidelines for future research.

The coordination chemistry of 2,2′-bis-p-^tBu-calix[4]arene with paramagnetic 3d and 4f metal ions is reviewed, revealing common structural and magnetic themes.

This work demonstrates how metal-based chemotherapeutic candidates target key biomolecules (mitochondria, DNA, proteins, death receptors, enzymes and so on) to disrupt vital pathways to induce cancer cell death.

Mechanisms of action of copper–tinidazole complexes through a combination of experimental and theoretical studies.

Schematic of synthesis mechanisms and applications of the CPL framework materials.

We offer a comprehensive overview of the fabrication of Co-based BMOF-derived nanozymes and their applications in the environmental field, including contaminant detection and degradation.

In terms of electronic structure, the century-old brown ring complex formed in the classical brown ring test employed in the qualitative analysis of nitrate (and nitrite) is still a matter of debate among both theoretical and experimental chemists.

Low-spin d⁶ cobalt(III) complexes with oligo(saloph) ligands exhibit dynamic structural and functional switching via reversible axial ligand exchange, enabling redox control, chirality inversion, and tunable host–guest binding behavior.

BODIPY-metal conjugated prodrugs: engineering targeted theranostic platforms for enhanced photodynamic and photothermal cancer therapy.

An attempt is made to identify reactions other than simple coordination that may be involved in sub-critical solvothermal synthesis of metal ion complexes and to explain why such reactions warrant more detailed study.

Liquid metal (LM) catalysis has been demonstrated to have obvious potential in the fields of energy conversion and environmental catalysis due to its unique dynamic interface, adjustable electronic structure and regenerative ability of active sites.

This detailed review highlights the synergy between AIE and MOF chemistry, thereby exploring multifunctional AIE-MOF platforms for advanced sensing and imaging applications.

The synthesis, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of Mo oxo dithiolenes are reviewed. These complexes mimic the active sites of enzymes, and understanding their chemistry is important in exploiting the natural systems.

This perspective highlights the potential of heavier pnictogen motifs as molecular switches. We discuss recent progress and key challenges for future developments.

This review explores how nanocarriers improve targeted delivery and efficacy of metallic anticancer drugs while addressing toxicity and resistance, highlighting advances and promoting research to optimize metal-based therapies for better outcome.

A comprehensive overview of fluorescence sensing of ROS and RNS by MOF based materials with future perspectives on the development strategies of similar fluorescent sensors is presented.

This perspective article deals with a comparative discussion on the isostructural molecular compounds of magnesium and zinc, both in +2 oxidation state, in terms of electronic properties and reactivity.

Graphical representation of electrochemical water splitting with Earth-abundant metal complex-based electrocatalysts.

High entropy compounds are multi-element materials. The solid-phase, wet chemical and gas-phase method are adapted to different morphologies. Supercapacitor diodes and lithium-ion batteries are new applications of high entropy compounds.

This comprehensive review delves into the intricate realm of organotin complexes with Schiff base ligands, offering a detailed analysis of their structural characteristics and coordination behaviour.

This perspective article highlights the historical developments and recent progress in engineering two-dimensional nanomaterials using atomically precise noble metal nanoclusters, their properties and applications.

Nitrogen-rich heterocycles represent a significant class of energetic compounds, distinguished by their substantial nitrogen content and elevated heats of formation.

Dithiocarbamates are monoanionic chelating ligands that find widespread use in agriculture, medicine, materials science and coordination chemistry. In this perspective we address some common misconceptions that have crept into the literature.

This review described recent advances in bifunctional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with both proton conduction and fluorescence sensing capabilities, providing valuable insights into the multifunctional synergistic mechanisms of MOFs.

This review highlights the synthesis, anticancer mechanisms, antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities, and diagnostic applications of bismuth dithiocarbamate complexes.

NiFe-based electrocatalysts are promising for green hydrogen production due to their low cost, high elemental abundance, and excellent intrinsic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity.

The versatility of the NNNN macrocyclic ligand Me₄TACD (N,N′,N′′,N′′′-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) for the stabilization of reactive hydrides, hydrocarbyls and silyls of s- and p-block main group metals is summarized.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD) are techniques known for their unique ability to produce pinhole-free and conformal thin films uniformly, even on complex 3D architectures and powders, with sub-nm thickness control.

PTMCs target multidrug-resistant bacteria through ROS production, membrane disruption, and biomolecular interference. Their luminescence properties enable real-time imaging, offering powerful dual-action tools for infection diagnosis and therapy.

Various ZIF-67-derived chalcogenides and their composites are used in supercapacitors.

Emergent nanosensors and nanofertilizers for food security and sustainable agricultural practices.

This review covers atomically precise metal nanocluster-based photocatalysts for hydrogen production, focusing on their unique structures, strong light harvesting abilities, and charge-transfer mechanisms.

This review focuses on the latest developments in single-component white-light-emitting materials based on lanthanide coordination assemblies.

The review provides an overview of strategies to enhance the stability of Eu²⁺- and Ce³⁺-activated phosphors with anti-/zero thermal quenching, and discusses potential research directions for achieving thermally stable phosphors.

This feature article describes the utilization of six-membered N-heterocyclic carbene in main-group chemistry.

Nature’s molybdenum vs. tungsten selectivity for their biological functions under different working conditions (surrounding temperature and aerobic/anaerobic environment) is determined mainly by the relativistic effect which is experienced in different extents by these two congeners.

This perspective offers an overview of recent advances in the isolation of late d-block metal imidyls and nitrenes and related metal nitridyls and metallanitrenes.

This review dicusses diverse organotellurium ligands, their coordination with metals, structural aspects, and applications, addressing a critical research gap in organochalcogen chemistry.

Au(I)-NHC complexes target cancer via thiol/selenol binding, inducing apoptosis via TrxR inhibition, mitochondrial disruption, and ROS. Structural/NHC ligand modifications enhance efficacy. Advances reveal precise multifunctional potential.

The ability of the calix[6]arene and related homologues to support novel metal-containing structural motifs and to act as catalysts, mostly in polymerization catalysis, is reviewed.

This review covers NIR luminescent materials doped with RE, TM, and main-group ions, focusing on their optical properties, mechanisms, applications in bioimaging, LEDs, and sensors, and strategies to improve efficiency and thermal stability.

This review summarizes recent advances in bioresponsive Gd(III) contrast agents, particularly those developed between 2019 and 2024. Three major types of probe that respond specifically to changes in pH, chemicals, and enzymes have been highlighted.

Recent advances in polyoxometalate (POM)-based materials with biomedical applications indicate significant potential in the therapeutic field. The scientific community aims to advance these materials to enhance the bioorthogonal chemistry of POMs.

This review covers the design, synthesis, and biomedical applications of gold, silver, and iron nanoparticle-based nanogels. It highlights their multifunctional role in therapy and diagnostics while exploring challenges and future prospects.

The synthesis, complexation and catalysis with enantiopure single-atom-bridged diphosphorus ligands is reviewed, with 161 references.

The use of bismuth and its compounds in biomedicine has developed rapidly in recent years.

This review is based on the cyclic 48-tungsto-8-phosphate [H₇P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄]³³⁻ (P₈W₄₈) as well as its smaller derivatives [H₆P₄W₂₄O₉₄]¹⁸⁻ (P₄W₂₄), and [H₂P₂W₁₂O₄₈]¹²⁻ (P₂W₁₂), with a focus on structural aspects, solution stability and reactivity.

Since half-sandwich Ir(III) complexes have garnered more attention, this review will focus on the intricate connections between the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake efficiency, and their intracellular distribution properties, while taking coordination site atom variation into account.

The rigidity and well-defined size and shape of the bispidine scaffold, as well as the ease of preparing 4- to 10-dentate ligands are the main features for its very rich coordination chemistry.

Herein, we present a general overview of the molecular design and electronic properties of linear cyanido-bridged multimetallic complexes and their challenges.

Conversion of plastic waste into feedstocks by transition metal catalysts: Strategies for converting polymeric waste into feedstocks through catalytic depolymerization by transition metal complexes and organometallic compounds are highlighted.

Prochloron didemni, an obligate symbiont of certain ascidians (sea squirts found in tropical areas), produces various cyclic peptides in large quantities, and their copper coordination chemistry is shown to be related to their biological funcion.

Semiconductor metal oxides detect H₂ even at the ppm level but need high temperatures and oxygen. MOFs/COFs detect H₂ at higher concentrations, work at lower temperatures, and perform very well even under inert conditions.

Recent advancements in the synthetic methods, energy storage applications, and new mechanisms related to Li-ion/metal batteries for the new carbon GDY and its heteroatom-doped derivatives.

This article explores matere bonds, supported by theoretical and computational studies. These σ-hole interactions with group 7 elements (Mn, Tc, Re) are key in crystal engineering, catalysis, and biological systems.

ZIF-8 MOFs and their hybrid materials: overview, synthesis methods and photocatalytic applications.

The latest developments in controlling the photoinduced processes of Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes bearing D–A and D–π–A ligands with six different diimine cores decorated by various electron-rich amine, sulphur-based and π-conjugated aryl groups.

The development of the trinuclear platinum(II) complex BBR3464 (also known as triplatin) in the late 1990s was meant to be a revolution in the field of platinum chemotherapy.