Themed collection 2019 Emerging Investigators

We highlight recent applications of chemical biology approaches to measure target engagement of small molecules in animal models to support the nomination of clinical candidates.

Bioactive photoswitchable peptides as excellent optochemical tools for cellular processes.

The Schiff base forming reaction of lactams and heteroaromatic amines led to creation of a new class of aza-BODIPY analogues as visible and near infrared functional chromophores.

Dynamic morphological, structural and compositional changes will occur when transition metal phosphides and chalcogenides are used to catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction, which can substantially enhance their electrocatalytic performance.

This Feature Article summarizes the recent advances in the colloidal synthesis of tin-based nanomaterials and their electrochemical properties in alkali-ion batteries.

The Wittig reaction is a reliable method for synthesizing alkenes from phosphorous ylides (P-ylides) and carbonyls, and is thus widely applied in medicine and pharmaceutical production.

Various strategies for TSQ-induced fluorophore stabilization and their application in sm-FRET as well as in super-resolution imaging microscopy are thoroughly reviewed.

This Feature Article reviews a range of amorphisation mechanisms of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and presents recent advances to produce novel MOF materials including porous MOF glasses, MOF crystal–glass composites, flux melted MOF glasses and blended zeolitic imidazolate framework glasses.

This work provides new streamlined saponin vaccine adjuvants and molecular-level insights into saponin conformation that correlate with potent adjuvant activity.

Dinuclear Rh^III(Cp*) and Ir^III(Cp*) complexes demonstrated potent in vitro anticancer activity while exhibiting low toxicity in haemolysis studies and in vivo zebrafish models.

We investigated symmetrical β-propeller protein scaffolds as artificial hydrolases and discovered their catalytic mechanism to be centred around a threonine–histidine dyad.

Here we report template-free synthesis of imine-linked calix[4]arene hollow nanocapsules and their utility in the effective delivery of a poorly soluble cancer drug into tumor cells.

Freestanding 2D metallic gallenene exhibits remarkable stability when the thickness is three atomic layers.

Polysulfides, potential signalling molecules, were synthesised and then found and explored for the first time in yeast.

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide capping on Au renders desirable chemical interactions with SnO₂, enabling selective bifunctional CO₂ electroreduction.

A Cu²⁺ complex for bimodal imaging of cellular hypoxia using ¹⁹F magnetic resonance and fluorescence.

Colloidal synthesis enables size- and phase-tuning of WSe₂ nanocrystals.

We report the synthesis of superhydrophobic two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides by modulation of the degree of atomic defects. The presence of atomic vacancies in 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanoassemblies dictated hydrophilic-to-hydrophobic transition and subsequent cell adhesion.

A perhydroxylated dodecaborate cluster acts as an inorganic polyol to produce cross-linked polyurethanes, which confers a porous structure and enhanced thermal stability compared to analogous polymers produced from carbon-based polyols.

The oxidative rearrangement of 1,3-diketones is an underexplored alternative to enolate chemistry in the synthesis of all-carbon quaternary carboxylates. Mechanistic understanding enabled the discovery of a faster and more effective reaction.

A novel reductive relay hydroboration of allylic alcohols with pinacolborane using ⁿBuLi as an efficient initiator is reported.

Direct potential control of protein redox centres for both electrochemical and EPR characterisation.

An isostructural series of flexible MOFs based on pendant arm macrocycles was developed to tune flexibility depending on functional groups.

The combination of switchable dipolar side groups and the semiconducting core leads to a material showing continuous tunability from injection- to bulk-limited conductivity modulation.

The edge-on type 2D self-assembly can be selectively formed by managing hydrogen bonding interactions at the liquid–solid interface.

A unified strategy enables multi-component radical addition cascades to couple alkenes, heteroarenes, and various radicals, including N₃, P(O)R₂, and CF₃.

A gap-mode configuration was developed for the in situ SERS study of the structure–activity relationship of Au@Pd core–shell nanocatalysts, which show much better performance in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol compared to Pd.

At high local DNA concentrations, a photoactive Ru(II) complex forms photo-adducts more rapidly and with reduced promiscuity.

Metal-only Lewis pairs made of Pt(0)/Ag(I) combinations have been previously reported, but their cooperative reactivity remains unexplored.

A palladium/norbornene cooperative catalysis promoted annulation involving an ortho-C–H amination and intramolecular Heck cascade between aryl iodides and functionalized amination reagents is reported, thereby providing a highly convergent access to the unique N-containing bridged scaffolds: hexahydro-2,6-methano-1-benzazocine.

Ultrathin iron oxyhydroxide nanosheets were synthesised by multiple potential cyclings on thermally annealed iron foils, acting as an efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalyst.

Simple artificial light harvesting networks can be created by the covalent attachment of organic chromophores to silicon dioxide nanoparticles.

A chiral photoswitchable nanoporous material with remote-controllable enantioselective adsorption capacity is presented.

Herein, we report the synthesis and crystal structures of three [2+2] supramolecular boxes assembled by halogen bonding.

Calix[4]pyrrole based thermoresponsive supramolecular polymers were demonstrated by using a complementary pair of homoditopic host and guest molecules.

Octahedral Cu nanocrystals in the size range of 75–310 nm are synthesized and investigated for electrochemical CO₂ reduction.

A series of hitherto unprecedented seleno-pentlandites (Fe_4.5Ni_4.5S_8-YSe_Y) and their catalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction is presented.

Covalent post-synthetic functionalisation of layered metal–organic frameworks is demonstrated as a new approach to forming ultrathin nanosheets for use in catalysis.

A general access to challenging and unprecedented C(sp)–, C(sp²)– and C(sp³)–SCF₂PO(OEt)₂ bonds via a BiCl₃ mediated transformation.

Tunneling and thermoelectric characteristics of NHC-based large-area junctions were demonstrated for the first time.