Review Articles

Chemical reactions can still occur at temperatures as low as 1 μK. Under such conditions, however, quantum effects are increasingly important, challenging the common understanding of chemical reactivity. The current developments of experimental and theoretical approaches are starting to provide us with a clearer picture of chemistry close to absolute zero.

Different luminescent beetles harness the same enzymatic reaction to emit different colours of light. This Review describes how subtle differences in luciferase enzymes between species afford a diverse palette of colours.

Several transition-metal and lanthanide complexes undergo circularly polarized luminescence. This Review describes design principles for the complexes and instruments used to measure them, including in the context of security inks.

The introduction of shape anisotropy at the nanoscale is a potent way to access new properties and functionalities. This Review appraises different methods for the bottom-up synthesis of anisotropic nanoparticles, and highlights the unique properties and applications of these materials with otherwise inaccessible functionality.

Stimuli-responsive supramolecular systems have emerged as tools for engineering functional lipid-bilayer membranes. This Review highlights their use in controlling binding, ion transport and signalling in membranes.

Correlated disorder drives a variety of important and useful physical properties in crystalline materials. This Review explores the link between disorder and function, and surveys the core design principles that enable targeted control over correlated disorder in crystals.

Demand for energy-dense electrochemical storage systems has drawn increasing focus to metal–gas batteries. This Review describes the chemistry of these batteries and the underlying trade-offs between energy density and electrochemical reversibility.

Post-translational modifications expand the diversity of the proteome and regulate core biological processes. Chemical biology tools provide access to proteins bearing site-specific post-translational modifications, helping us to decipher their roles in health and disease.

The biosynthesis of inorganic nanomaterials in microorganisms is an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical synthesis. This Review describes the engineering of microorganisms to rationally prepare nanomaterials for diverse applications.

This Review details the use of enantioenriched organometallic nucleophiles in stereospecific, Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions. Particular focus is placed on the stereochemical outcome of the coupling reactions, which enable the predictable manipulation of 3D molecular structure.

Selective manipulation of carbon–carbon bonds provides a direct approach to editing organic scaffolds. This Review describes the catalytic activation of unstrained carbon–carbon bonds enabled by temporary or removable directing groups.

The self-assembly of biomimetic peptides can mimic complex natural systems involving whole proteins. This Review describes how synthetic peptides afford tunable scaffolds for biomineralization, drug delivery and tissue growth.

High pressure leads to striking new chemistry. Many new compounds with atypical compositions and a plethora of novel chemical species can be stabilized by the formation of homonuclear bonds and the activation of core electrons, non-valence and non-atomic orbitals.

Tagging and manipulating biomolecules in living systems requires precisely tuned, biocompatible reactions. This Review focuses on recent advances in the development of bioorthogonal reactions, with an emphasis on how mechanistic insights have driven the field.

Although amino acid repeats have been linked to a diverse range of diseases, they are prevalent in the human proteome. This Review describes their physiological importance, the factors that influence their conformations and therapeutic strategies to treat repeat-related diseases.

Enhanced chemical reactivity on-water has major implications in many fields, ranging from atmospheric to prebiotic chemistry. This Review analyses recent experimental and theoretical studies in this fast-moving research area and brings together some key findings across diverse fields.

RNA-binding proteins have crucial roles in cellular activities, and disruption of their function is associated with human diseases. This Review describes inhibition of RNA-binding proteins using small molecules as a rapidly evolving strategy for the discovery of chemical probes and therapeutics.

High-valent metal–oxo species are implicated in biological and industrially important oxidations. This Review describes mononuclear iron and manganese oxos, the nature of the ‘oxo wall’ and recent advances in late-transition-metal–oxo complexes.

Self-replicating systems play a central role in the emergence of life. This Review describes the features that self-replicating systems need to acquire to transition from chemistry to biology and surveys the progress made in theoretical and experimental approaches.

Discovery and application of enzymes that catalyse new reactions is essential for broad implementation of biocatalysts in organic synthesis. This Review describes recent developments in biocatalytic carbon–carbon bond formation.