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Single-molecule and -particle fluorescence microscopy — traditionally applied to biophysical studies — has recently been used to gain insight into chemical systems. Still at its nascent stage, this approach presents great opportunities for the chemistry community through the observation of chemical reactions and their mechanisms as typically depicted in textbooks: molecule by molecule.
The reduction of N2 by iron and molybdenum complexes is a rapidly moving field. This Perspective discusses the key advances in the past two years. The recent discovery of carbide at the centre of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase is also described, along with the most compelling areas for continued research.
Over the past decade, C–H bond activation has progressively become a well-established synthetic tool. An increased scope and understanding of this transformation has seen it being used in a wide range of contexts, not only in traditional organic synthesis, but also in late-stage diversification strategies for organic materials and biologically active molecules.