Themed collection ChemComm 60th Anniversary Board Member Collection

Chemical reagents with special groups as enrichable handles have empowered the ability to label and enrich modified peptides.

Twenty years ago, I wrote a Chem. Commun. feature article entitled “Crystal Engineering: where from? Where to?”: an update is in order.

This review summarizes recent major advances in iron-catalysed C–H aminations of alkyl azides through iron–alkylnitrene/alkylimido intermediates to access various N-heterocycles.

Newer avenues for creative utilization of hyperbranched polymers has relied on the numerous peripherally located functional groups to generate core–shell amphiphilicity, Janus amphiphilicity, clickable scaffolds and multifunctional crosslinkers.

The article discusses mechanisms used by enzymes that attack the aromatic polymer lignin found in plant biomass.

A transition metal-free synthesis of spirocycles has been delineated by Huisgen cycloaddition on 3,3-disubstituted-2-oxindoles, enabling quick access to tetracyclic spirooxindoles and natural product analogues.

The biosynthetic enzymes that install the characteristic features of cyclotides and lanthipeptides were combined to make new-to-nature compounds.

The late-stage fluorescent labeling of structurally complex peptides bears immense potential for molecular imaging.

A binuclear Ni complex with N,O donors catalyzes CO₂ reduction via its Ni(I) state.

Metal complexation and peripheral modifications of thiaporphyrins have been investigated for preparing π-electronic cations with substituent-dependent modulated electronic properties and anion-dependent ion-pairing assembling modes.

Newly designed tripeptides were able to trigger proinflammatory cytokine secretion by T-cells in response to Leishmania donovani infection.

A hexagonal 2D Cu-based MOF with planar CuO₄ nodes, denoted as Cu-HATNA, was developed and employed as an electrocatalyst for direct electrosynthesis of urea from CO₂ and NO₃⁻.

(A) Schematic illustration of the photoelectrode construction for in vivo detection in the mouse brain. (B) Schematic illustration of the mechanism for the detection of O₂ by the developed photoelectrode.

A nucleoside-derived supramolecular system serves as a template for a two-component ‘double-click’ macrocyclization.

Antiaromatic expanded porphyrins designed to self-assemble into columnar liquid crystalline (LC) structures are synthesized and characterized by multiple techniques. The substituents were found to play a crucial role in modulating the LC behaviour.

Tunable emission from H-type supramolecular polymers prepared by self-assembly of tetraphenylethylene-based monomers is achieved by harnessing the surface lattice resonances of dielectric TiO₂ nanoparticles.

We report a fluorene-bridged double carbonyl/amine-based MR TADF emitter DDiKTa-F. The OLEDs exhibited narrower, red-shifted emission and reduced efficiency roll-off compared to the device with the previously reported, conformationally flexible DDiKTa.

Unique M/P helicity of the dynamic helical Co₃ complex was induced at a SiO₂ surface with chiral ((R) or (S))-1-phenylethylamine.

Separation of a surrogate metal-based toxic oxoanion of radioactive TcO₄⁻ from a mixture of other competing metal or non-metal-based oxoanions has been demonstrated by a water stable cationic metal–organic framework (iMOF-C).

Polymer materials endowed with hetero-complementary carboxylate and amidinium supramolecular functions can be generated either by solution or by surface grafting.

We synthesized and characterized an alkynyl-protected Au₃₄Ag₂₇ nanocluster, revealing a metallic core subshell structural difference with one missing Ag atom compared to Au₃₄Ag₂₈. This leads to modulated electronic structure and optical properties.

The dramatic influence of a N-to-N connector on the geometry, electronic structure and reactivity of Co(II)N₂S₂ complexes.

We have studied the size-dependent optical scattering of aqueous suspensions containing Mg₂Al-LDH platelets, which exhibit high total- and side-scatterings.

The reaction between Th(IV) dipyriamethyrin dichloride and sodium cyclopentadienyl (Cp) results in the formation of a cyclopentadienyl capped thorium dipyriamethyrin complex.

An A15 Frank Kasper phase, composed of tetrahedra forms at the transition between columnar phases with triangular and square honeycomb structure, and can be suppressed by polyfluorination of the oligo(p-phenylene ethynylene) core unit.

The crystallization of charged microdroplets generated via electrospray can lead to the formation of hollow single crystals, wherein surface charges govern the surface ion concentration.

An azide-modified phosphonic acid can be used to covalently tether polymers to indium tin oxide, preventing delamination and dissolution.

Dithienoacenes with a heptacene core, heptaceno[2,3-b:11,12-b′]bis[1]benzothiophene, have been synthesized through the combination of solution and surface assisted chemistry.

The synthesis and characterization of a novel π-extended tetra-phenol dihydrophenazine is reported. The derivative was effectively employed as organo-photocatalyst, underlining the great potential of this class of molecules in photocatalysis.

A core–shell MOF@COF hybrid was developed for energy storage applications by using on-surface condensation reactions on the MOF UiO-66-NH₂ template.

Despite the broad utility of ketones in bioconjugation, few methods exist to introduce them into RNA.

Au(III) polymer reagents provide facile access to semi-telechelic and diblock copolymers.

The silsesquioxane ligand (^iBuPOSSH₃) allowed the assembly of robust polynuclear complexes of uranium(III) and the isolation of the first trinuclear U(III) complex that exhibits magnetic exchange.

Synthesis of polymer core–shell particles via seeded dispersion polymerisation in scCO₂ is achieved via iterative addition of a shell monomer to a pre-prepared polymer core. After depressurising the reactor, the products are isolated as dry powders.

Combination of iron- and photocatalysis enables the development of a reductive Reformatsky reaction, providing a catalytic synthetic method to β-hydroxy esters from α-haloesters and aldehydes or ketones.

An arylazopyrazole-based photo-responsive host–guest molecular recognition motif was established which can act as a good supplement to the widely used azobenzene-based ones and enrich the toolbox for the fabrication of smart supramolecular systems.

The enantio-kinetic threading of chiral guests by chiral porphyrin hosts is determined by the planar chirality of the host and influenced by the size but not the chirality of the substituent X.

A VAPOL-derived phosphoramidite ligand is unique in that it inverts the regiochemical course of nickel-catalyzed reactions of aldimines with dienol ethers to afford 1,2-aminoalcohol derivatives with high optical purity.

Conformers in solution guide self-assembly of dipeptides in solid state. Folded conformers drive crystallisation, while extended ones drive gelation. Both conformers in solution are found for peptides, whose gels over time evolve towards crystals.

The stannyl phosphaketene (CH{(CMe)(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃N)}₂)SnPCO 1 acts as a synthon for phosphorus analogues of β-lactams in the presence of E(C₆F₅)₃ (E = B or Al).

Simple lanthanide cyclopentadienyl (Cp) complexes can photochemically cleave the sp³ carbon–chlorine bond of unactivated chlorinated hydrocarbons including polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Exploration of the distinct ring expansion or addition reactivity of pnictogenium cations ([ER₂]⁺, E = P, As, Sb) grants access to unprecedented cationic interpnictogen compounds.