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Supported metal nanoparticles are indispensable catalysts in industry, yet they are often subjected to severe sintering. Now, a general method based on metal immobilization within zeolite is reported for the preparation of highly sinter-resistant catalysts for a broad range of industrially relevant processes.

The properties of polymers depend on monomer composition and chain length, but regulating these structural features during polymer synthesis is a challenge. Now Hecht and co-workers report a photoswitchable catalyst system that can repeatedly be switched between ON and OFF states, allowing remote control of the polymerization process. Furthermore, copolymerization with control over monomer incorporation is demonstrated.

Predicting metal–support combinations that can afford stable single-atom catalysts remains a complex problem. Now, a computational method is reported that can be used to screen interaction strengths between metals and supports and identify those pairs that generate strongly adsorbed single-atom catalysts.

Organic synthesis relies on the ability to convert simple starting materials into compounds with greater molecular complexity. Here, Trost and co-workers use branched aldehydes as nucleophiles for asymmetric Mannich reactions, and the products of these reactions as electrophiles for the addition of a range of carbon nucleophiles. This provides a simple, stereodivergent route to 1,3-aminoalcohols.

Electrolysis uses clean electricity to form chemical products but typical water electrolysis produces hydrogen which is hard to store oxygen which is a waste gas. Here, paired electrolysis is performed with an palladium membrane reactor to carry out two organic reactions simultaneously. The dense palladium membrane enables the two reactions to proceed in different solvents and the reaction rates and selectivities can be independently controlled.

Although the replacement of palladium with iron in metal-catalysed cross-couplings continues apace, the Suzuki synthesis of biaryls — arguably the most widely used class of such C–C bond formations — has remained elusive. Now, by use of a π-coordinating directing group, another step has been taken toward iron-catalysed Suzuki reactions.

Iron–sulfur metalloproteins are widespread and efficient catalysts for multielectron reduction of small molecules. Now, research shows that simple Fe₄S₄ cofactors and related complexes can perform effective reductive chemistry producing small hydrocarbons from CO₂ and CO.

The carboxylation of aromatic compounds with CO₂ is an attractive reaction, albeit limited in scope. Now, bulky ligands in a Rh(II) catalysed C–H carboxylation of 2-arylphenols are shown to override the standard ortho/para Kolbe–Schmitt-type regioselectivity allowing instead carboxylation at 2’.

Inexpensive, earth-abundant photoabsorbers for solar water splitting have, so far, not demonstrated notable performance. Now, voltage gained from a coaxial heterojunction coupled with nanostructure-enhanced photocurrent results in Cu₂O photocathodes demonstrating benchmark water-splitting performance.

The field of organic synthesis has benefited from a greater understanding of organometallic and coordination chemistry, and the applications of homogeneous catalysts continue to impress.

Cross-coupling of aryl compounds is one of the most powerful carbon–carbon bond forming reactions available, and typically involves the use of expensive and scarce palladium salts. Here Bedford and co-workers show that iron can be an effective catalyst for Suzuki biaryl couplings.

The conversion of methanol — which can be produced from non-fossil resources — to important chemical commodities such as olefins and aromatics allows for the diversification of organic feedstocks beyond petrochemicals. This Review covers recent discoveries about the mechanism of this process and discusses how these link to practical aspects in reaction engineering.

Single-atom catalysts have drawn increasing attention as methods for their preparation and characterization improve. Here, Beller and co-workers discuss the latest developments in the field of single-metal-site catalysts, discussing how this catalyst class bridges heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, and providing a perspective on how the field might continue to develop.

The conversion of carbon dioxide into multi-carbon alcohols would enable the synthesis of sustainable liquid fuels with high energy densities. Now, vacancy-engineered core–shell copper-based catalysts are able to shift the selectivity of electrochemical CO₂ reduction into alcohols instead of alkenes, as obtained with bare-copper catalysts.

The proper verification of the stability of metal oxide catalysts for water electrolysis in acid electrolyte remains unresolved. Here, the ‘stability number’ is introduced to evaluate the dissolution mechanisms of various iridium-based oxides and to facilitate benchmarking of catalysts independent of loading, surface area or involved active sites.

Catalytic arene carboxylation with CO₂ is a challenging reaction, with limited substrate scope and selectivity. Now, a redox neutral method based on a ligand-assisted Rh-catalysed C–H activation is shown, which features broad scope and provides access to important and biologically relevant structural motifs

Alcohols serve as versatile intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other valuable compounds. Here, Contente and Paradisi developed self-sustainable biocatalytic flow systems for the conversion of amines into various non-commercially-available and high-value alcohols.