Volume 2 Issue 2, February 2018

The first detection of rotational features of benzonitrile offers the opportunity to undesrtand the origin of PAHs in space.

Electrocatalytic O₂ reduction on metal surfaces is well understood in acidic solution, but the mechanism in basic solution has been a point of contention. On studying the O₂ reduction activities of a series of Pt(111)–Cu surface alloys, it becomes clear that the surface-bound oxygenic intermediates are the same regardless of the pH.

The metals in polyoxometalates need not be in their highest oxidation states. Indeed, polyoxometalates can exist in reduced forms, and several different metals can be incorporated into various structural archetypes. This Review describes the synthesis and characterization of these complexes, along with their topical catalytic, electronic and biological properties.

Building on the theoretical prediction and experimental realization of planar tetracoordinate carbons, there has been great progress in the theoretical prediction of species containing planar pentacoordinate carbon (ppC) centres. From simple clusters such as CAl₅⁺ to complicated ppCs in 2D materials, this Review summarizes the ppC-containing species predicted to date and the design principles behind them.

Iterative approaches to synthesis have revolutionized the preparation and study of peptides, nucleic acids and sugars. This Review discusses whether and how such iterative syntheses can be applied more broadly towards an ultimate goal of developing a building block approach to the synthesis of most small organic molecules.