Volume 3 Issue 2, February 2019

Discovery of new materials has been traditionally based on a trial-and-error approach. Now, miniaturized nanoreactors have been developed for the synthesis and analysis of nanoparticle megalibraries of different size and composition.

Dodecaphenylanthracene — a twisted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with interesting electrochemical properties — has, after 20 years of trying, finally succumbed to synthesis.

Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) has already proved to be a powerful lens for investigating biosystems. In this Review, the authors show how SRM can be very powerful in the study of synthetic material both in situ and in operando.

Structurally complex natural products can be efficiently accessed through protecting-group-free (PGF) synthesis. This Review describes recent examples of PGF syntheses of terpenes and alkaloids, showcasing the power and elegance of innovative methods and strategies in natural product synthesis.

SO₂ and NO₂ are primary causes of air pollution and severe breathing problems worldwide. This Review gives an overview of the recent advances in the use of metal–organic framework materials to capture and remove these toxic gases from air.

Automation can help in performing routine tasks quickly and consistently. Algorithms facilitate the searching of current knowledge. Combining the two could lead to a chemically intelligent approach to the discovery of not only new molecules but also novel and unpredictable reactivity.