Nature Chemistry - Current issue : November 2009 - Vol 1 No 8
- Nanocapsules make light of pH sensing
- Lindau 2009: A noble conference
- Polymer synthesis: Made by microwaves
- Asymmetric catalysis: Selective sulfonylation
Latest highlights
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Nanoparticle sponges
Article by Klajn et al.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'.
Advance online publication
Surface chemistry
Article by Harikumar et al.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.
Advance online publication
Heterogeneous catalysis
Article by Kiely et al.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–WOx clusters to be the active sites.
Current issue
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.
Research Highlights
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The latest from the literature
The unknown binding properties of known drugs can be predicted; arsenic- and platinum-based drugs co-encapsulated in a liposome show promise for targeted cancer treatment; nerve agents can be detoxified more effectively with mutant enzymes.
Current issue
The development of general synthetic strategies for the prepartion of oligonucleotides and peptides has enabled them to be made routinely — often using automated systems. Making complex oligosaccharides is much less straightforward, but advances in areas such as one-pot multi-step protecting-group manipulations, stereoselective glycosylation protocols and chemo-enzymatic methods are offering new opportunities for carbohydrate chemistry.
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