Articles in 2009

Diisopropyl fluorophosphatase has been re-engineered to speed up the detoxification of organophosphorus nerve agents.

An organic polymer scaffold has now been developed that can capture and release functionalized inorganic nanoparticles by the threading and de-threading of pseudorotaxane linkages. The capture–release cycles are reversible and programmable both chemically and electrochemically. In mixtures of different nanoparticles, the scaffold can capture one type selectively — thus acting as a selective nanoparticle ‘sponge’.

A cooperative reaction is reported whereby the halogenation of one silicon atom on a surface is shown to induce, invariably, halogenation of a neighbouring silicon. This is a first step towards using surface-propagated cooperative reactions to create molecular-scale patterns on surfaces.

The photoinduced racemization of a helical polymer with preferred handedness occurs without rearrangement of its chemical bonds

The total synthesis of the diterpene vinigrol has finally been achieved 20 years on from its isolation.

A 'Russian doll' endohedral fullerene has been made, comprising a carbon dimer within a scandium tetrahedron, all encased by a C₈₀ cage.

Small alkanes are typically isomerized on tungstated-alumina solid-acid catalysts, but the origin of the activity has been unclear. Now, high-resolution imaging has revealed subnanometre Zr-WO_x clusters to be the active sites.

The spin coupling in Keplerate polyoxomolybdates has been altered by a partial reduction reaction monitored by Raman spectroscopy.

A rotaxane in which a large part of the 'axle' component adopts a well-defined helical structure offers a new twist in the study of molecular machines.

A rare σ-methane complex of rhodium has been characterized by NMR.

Chemists have long relied on techniques that give indirect hints and clues as to the structure of the molecules they study, but advances in scanning probe microscopy provide a glimpse of the individual atoms and bonds within pentacene.

Eric Scerri recounts the story of element 87, which after a number of false starts was finally tracked down in France — and named in its honour.

Synthetic vesicles with membranes made from amphiphiles that are fluorescence acceptors encapsulate donor molecules in their cores, and emit different proportions of red, blue and green light depending on pH. The balance of these coloured emissions at pH 9 results in white fluorescence.

Perceived lapses in the peer-review process often receive a lot of attention, but the majority of researchers declare themselves satisfied with the system. But if it is broken, how do we fix it?

Each year since 1951, young researchers and Nobel Laureates have gathered on the shores of Lake Constance for a unique scientific conference. In 2009 the meeting was dedicated to chemistry, and Laureates and students all came away enriched by their experiences.

The host–guest properties of metal–organic frameworks have usually relied on molecular separation by the pore aperture or non-specific binding with the pore walls. Incorporating supramolecular recognition units into the frameworks has now enabled the docking of a specific guest.