Themed collection Articles behind our 2025 journal covers

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.

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.

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.

Metal complex-based probes enable μM- to nM-level Cl⁻ detection with high selectivity via coordination, H-bonding, electrostatic interactions and more, using techniques such as UV-visible absorption, luminescence, electrochemistry, and ¹H NMR.

This article focuses on unimolecular white-light-emitting metal complexes and classifies them according to the nature of their luminescent electronic states and the current status of their synthesis and application in WOLEDs.

Cocrystallization can change the molecular composition and crystal structure of cyclo-N₅⁻ species to increase its decomposition temperature, density, and energy, and reduce its sensitivity.

The spin coherence phenomena of a system consisting of a mononuclear 3d transition metal S = 1/2 centre embedded in a polyoxometalate with low nuclear-spin abundance, [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]₄H₂[SiW₁₁O₃₉Cu_0.01Zn_0.99], have been revealed for the first time.

A 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadiene bearing extremely bulky silyl substituents was synthesized and its reactions with functionalized silanes followed by the reduction afforded a bulky dilithiosilole.

The synthesis and characterization of novel platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes derived from unsymmetrical ethylene or propylenediamine derivatives are presented.

Tetranuclear copper(I) N-heterocyclic thione cages with proximity-enforced Cu⋯H interactions have been demonstrated. The Cu⋯H interactions in these cages represent three-centre–four-electron anagostic (sp³)C–H⋯Cu(I) bonds.

A fascinating surface! By modelling NiO(100) slabs at varying –OH defect densities different structures are found, including three- and tetra-coordinated Ni species. Their electronic structure ranges from p-type or n-type to metallic character.

Telluroborates, A₂M₂TeB₂O₁₀ (A = Ba, Pb; M = Mg, Zn, Co, Ni and Fe), were investigated towards electrocatalytic water oxidation and visible light-assisted organic reactions.

This is the first time that the dipole moment of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) has been evaluated using actual electrochemical measurements.

Distortions in the porphyrin core from planarity can trigger a unique structure–property relationship, imparting its basicity, chemical stability, redox potential, and excited-state energetics, among other properties.

Coordination of a luminescent radical to Ag^I enhanced and red-shifted the radical-centered emission. This study demonstrates similar effects in the luminescence of the radical by complexation with group 11 d¹⁰-metal ions.

A cationic NHP complex of iron exhibits a broader reactivity spectrum towards anions than its neutral analogues. Key reaction pathways include nucleophilic attack at P, reductive decarbonylation, or CH-bond metalation, respectively.

Controlled generation of nitric oxide (NO) by continuous infusion of nitrite ions into an ascorbate-reduced copper catalyst mediator.

The blue light-emitting fluorescent zinc(II) chalcogenone complexes were synthesized and characterized to demonstrate their potential for light-emitting applications.

This paper describes the synthesis of various luminescent Tb and Eu complexes by encapsulation in a Ca-complex. The synthesised material was then used as a ratiometric luminescence thermometer, in which thermometric parameters could be tuned.

This study reports on the chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of a tetranuclear Ru(II)–Re(I) complex as a chemotherapeutic agent.

This article reports the development of CuO|CuBi₂O₄ photocathodes stabilized by protective layers of TiO₂, MgO, or NiO, with Pt or MoS₂ nanoparticles serving as co-catalysts to facilitate H₂ evolution.

Symmetric (thio)urea and an unsymmetric urea functionalized salen complexes of Ni(II) were synthesized and studied for anion binding using 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy and DOSY NMR experiments.

Water-soluble nickel(II)-guanidine-based complexes successfully catalyzed the C–H chlorination of a series of hydrocarbons in the presence of NaOCl and acetic acid in water–chloroform (7 : 3, biphasic condition) at room temperature.

A series of aluminum complexes bearing phenolate (O–Al and O₂–Al), biphenolate (OO–Al type), aminophenolate (ON–Al), aminobiphenolate (ONO–Al), bis(phenolato)bis(amine) (NNOO–Al), and Salan (ONNO–Al) type ligands were synthesized.

Ternary diagram of Sn-doped GeSe₂, which was obtained by atomic layer deposition, showing a vertical device schematic and its DC and AC electrical characteristics.

We report on the synthesis of Pb[ChCN]₂ (Ch = O, S, Se) and Pb[SeCN][OH] and their hitherto unknown crystal structures.