Themed collection New Talent: Europe

Russell E. Morris, Maarit Karppinen and Paola Ceroni introduce the Dalton Transactions themed issue “New Talent: Europe 2022”.

The strategy of targeting phthalocyanine photosensitizers by conjugation to different classes of anticancer drugs for improved phototherapy is reviewed.

A collection of cobalt polypyridine complexes employed for the light-driven HER in aqueous solution is presented with the aim of highlighting the relevant chemical motifs that play a role in supporting efficient catalytic activity.

Pyclen and Py₂N₂ complexes are relevant compounds with applications ranging from medicine to catalysis. This review highlights the most recent research on these complexes.

The beneficial role of main-group cations [M]ⁿ⁺ brought by nucleophilic partners in Fe-mediated cross-couplings is highlighted. Examples of synergistic effects of Fe/[M]ⁿ⁺ pairs on the elementary steps of the catalytic processes are discussed.

The encounter complex underpins small-molecule activation and catalysis by frustrated Lewis pairs. This article explores the variety of computational and experimental techniques that have probed this ephemeral species.

The first TPA ligand equipped with a well-defined triazole-based hydrogen bonding cavity, inspired from the functionalized cavities of enzymes, was prepared.

Elucidating the bonding situation in a titanium complex with an anionic N-heterocyclic olefin ligand.

N₂-Derived boryldiazenido complexes are shown to offer differing coordination sites to the soft thallium cation depending on the boron's and phosphine ligand's substituents.

The magnetism of a family of NiFe-LDHs was studied enlarging the interlayer space and revealing a 2D magnetic behaviour. Moreover, a shift in the dominant magnetic interactions from ferro- to antiferromagnetic was observed for spacings >25 Å.

Two symmetric ligands harbouring two TEMPO radicals and two functionalized acetamide arms (R = OMe (L₁), CF₃ (L₂)) were prepared and chelated to lanthanide ions (Eu^III, Yb^III for both L₁ and L₂, Dy^III for L₁).

Sulfinyl-substituted aminotroponiminate (ATI) complexes of the alkali metals Li–K and the heavy metal bismuth have been isolated and characterised. The sulfinyl group affects their coordination and redox properties in the solid state and in solution.

Two highly photoactive molecular dyads were studied by optical spectroscopy and successfully employed for energy transfer (EnT) reactions in water. The diimine co-ligands have a pronounced effect on the ultrafast kinetics and the EnT efficiencies.

Straightforward electrochemical procedures yielded indium-modified copper cathodes with high activity towards syngas formation via CO₂ electroreduction in aqueous electrolytes.

Detection of biological phosphate is very important for environmental and health care applications.

Ultrafast transient absorption spectra were recorded for [Mn(terpy)X₃], where X = Cl, F, and N₃, to explore photoinduced switching from axial to equatorial Jahn–Teller (JT) distortion.

The templating effect of trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine on the structures of 13 metal halide compounds has been investigated. The oxidation state and coordination sphere of the metal ions are the two key parameters related to the dimensionality of the inorganic network.

Ru supported on zeolite catalysts: a case study for the direct amination of biobased alpha-hydroxy acids into alpha-amino acids.

The pyrolysis of the metal–organic framework Cu₃(1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate)₂ was followed in situ by combined XAS, PXRD and PDF.

Contribution of photocatalysis and Fenton-based processes for the degradation of aqueous organic pollutants.

The synthesis and characterization of bis(di-tert-butylindenyl) germanium(II), tin(II) and lead(II) complexes are reported, which includes the first structurally authenticated example of a bis(indenyl)germanocene.

Diprotonated cyclen stabilizes I₈²⁻ in the solid state showing unique I–I distances. A reappraisal of accepted threshold values for primary and secondary bonding in selected polyiodides is presented, with implications for their current validity.

In this work, a rare monomeric organolithium complex was reported, stabilised by a neutral tetradentate amine ligand. Its structure and decomposition/reactivity were studied.

ALD of aluminum ruthenate and platinum ruthenate are achieved by combining a metalorganic precursor with RuO₄ as oxidizing agent and Ru source.