Themed collection Most popular 2022 organic chemistry articles

This perspective highlights the growing body of literature that leverages polarity reversal (umpolung reactivity) for the selective modification of proteinogenic functionalities and identifies opportunities for further innovation.

C(sp³) radicals (R˙) are of broad research interest and synthetic utility.

Formation of an intramolecular phenol-amide H-bond leads to a dramatic increase in the H-bond donor strength of the amide NH group. Polarisation of the amide group is directly proportional to the polarity of the phenol H-bond donor.

The synthesis of red-shifted azobenzenes functionalised with heavy chalcogen and halogen substituents is reported, enabling photo-switching with red and near IR light and Z → E thermal isomerization rates spanning seven orders of magnitude.

A redox-active anticancer Au(I) complex that induces immunogenic cell death in non-small cell lung cancer cells has been identified. Mitochondrial oxidative stress leading to mitophagy-dependent secretion of various DAMPs is implicated as the main mechanism inducing ICD.

We identified two drug-like antitubercular hits with submicromolar inhibition constants against the target 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) with a new mode of action and promising activity against drug-resistant tuberculosis.

This twisted superhelicene employed its twists and loops to shine chiral emission into the NIR region. The proof of its promising applicability in optoelectronic devices is the analogous chiroptical properties obtained in solution and thin films.

A novel platinum(II)–cyanine complex showed a greater excellent sonodynamic therapeutic effect than photodynamic therapy in vivo. This work expands the biological applications of metal complexes from traditional photodynamic therapy to sonodynamic therapy.

The Fujiwara–Moritani reaction using electric current is a powerful tool for the olefination of arenes by Pd-catalysed C–H activation.

A photoredox cage built by coordination of two pyridyl-subphthalocyanines to Pd centers has proved versatile and efficient to catalyze photoredox addition reactions over encapsulated C₆₀.

An α-selective, iridium(III)-bipyridonate-catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange of alcohols using D₂O has been developed for the direct, chemoselective deuteration of primary and secondary alcohols, thereby providing deuterated bioactive molecules.

A catalytic ketyl–olefin coupling reaction including sequentially orchestrated Lewis acid activation, halogen-atom transfer, radical addition, single-electron reduction and β-fluoro elimination has been developed.

siRNA@PT-ZIF-8 was prepared by one pot self-assembly for tri-mode imaging guided mild-temperature photothermal synergetic gene therapy.

Herein, we report, a general, facile and environmentally friendly Minisci-type alkylation of N-heteroarenes under simple and straightforward electrochemical conditions using widely available alkyl halides as radical precursors.

In this paper we tackle the challenge of gaining control of the photophysical properties of PAHs through a site-specific N-doping within the structural aromatic framework.

An operationally simple, open-air, and efficient light-mediated Minisci C–H alkylation method is described, based on the formation of an electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex between nitrogen-containing heterocycles and redox-active esters.

Stannoles are introduced as a new, spontaneously aromatizing diene for [4 + 2] cycloadditions that can be easily introduced into diverse conjugated systems, facilitating the efficient synthesis of complex PAHs and their π-extension.

Carboxylic acids can now serve as a single point of entry to several sulfonyl functional groups by a one-step organophotocatalytic sulfonylation, revealing structural effects that enable the photocatalysis.

mRNA display generates vast datasets of protein binders. Bioinformatic clustering of the sequences combined with high throughput synthesis and analysis methods allow efficient prioritisation of hits for in vivo experiments.

Unprecedented NHC and photocatalysis co-catalyzed radical 1,4-sulfonylacylation of 1,3-enynes has been realized, providing structurally diversified tetrasubstituted allenyl ketones via allenyl and ketyl radical cross-coupling.

Chlorofluoroacetamide (CFA) was used as the warhead for covalent targeting of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. The chirality at CFA showed marked influence on inhibitory activity, suggesting stereospecific activation of CFA for cysteine modification in the protein.

Despite indisputable progress in the development of electrochemical transformations, electrocatalytic annulations for the synthesis of biologically relevant three-dimensional spirocyclic compounds has as of yet not been accomplished.

We use an experimental approach to compare an ionic liquid with a molecular mimic, focusing on viscosities. Charge network and coulombic compaction contribute significantly to the high viscosity of ionic liquids; we discuss the implications on their design and optimisation.

An acylative Suzuki-type cross-coupling of alkyl trifluoroborates and acid fluorides was developed by merging NHC organocatalysis with photoredox catalysis. A broad spectrum of ketones could be facilely synthesised under mild reaction conditions.

The introduction of glycoconjugate vaccines marks an important point in the fight against various infectious diseases.

We developed new empirical ML model for protein pK_a prediction with MAEs below 0.5 for all amino acid types.

An enhanced N-directed electrophilic C–H borylation methodology has been developed that provides access to azaborine containing helicenes.