Volume 4 Issue 1, January 2020

The rate of Berry pseudorotation in iron pentacarbonyl is measured using variable-temperature infrared spectroscopy and spectral simulations.

There are many formally copper(iii) complexes, but X-ray spectroscopy and theory now reveal that they often feature strong covalence and physical oxidation states lower than +iii.

Although early reports on the existence of silylium ions were met with controversy, we now know how to stabilize silyliums and exploit them as powerful catalysts and reagents.

A light-driven enzyme that oxidizes H₂O, photosystem II has inspired a wealth of solar fuels research and is used directly in semi-artificial photosynthesis. This Review describes the photosystem–electrode interface, as well as state-of-the-art electrode and biohybrid cell designs, and their importance in bio-photoelectrochemistry and semi-artificial photosynthesis.

The direct functionalization of RNA by selective acylation at the 2′-hydroxyl position is a powerful tool for structural and functional studies. This Review describes the chemical properties and design of effective acylating reagents, highlighting the various applications of RNA acylation.

Beginning with a historical retrospective, this Review highlights the progress from thermodynamically and kinetically controlled self-assembly processes towards seed-induced living supramolecular polymerization, which allows the formation of highly ordered, functional materials such as supramolecular block copolymers.

Silylium ions are highly reactive, strongly Lewis acidic and have historically been tricky to isolate. This Perspective highlights the range of methods available for their preparation and the latest examples of their use as catalysts or reagents in organic synthesis.