Volume 2 Issue 3, March 2018

Phosphonium adducts of pyridines are labile in basic solution, an undesirable property with regard to organic synthesis. Yet, this very lability proves valuable for the labelling of pyridine and diazines with heavier isotopes of hydrogen.

C–H functionalization logic has enabled rapid synthetic access to arylomycin antibiotics which could lead to the identification of new broad-spectrum antibiotics.

High-resolution experimental and theoretical velocity map imaging data explain the intricate and conterintuitive mechanism of bimolecular collisions.

The approximation underlying most atomistic simulations to treat nuclei classically can lead to large errors and the failure to capture important physical effects. This Review reports on recent developments that enable modelling of quantum nuclei at a computational cost comparable with that of a classical simulation.

The design of synthetic systems that mimic the ability of biological systems to control chemical reactions using intricate molecular machines is a long-held dream of nanotechnology. This Review discusses how developments in controlled molecular switching and movement are being exploited in the design of catalysts that are just beginning to emulate the complexity of living systems.

Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is the most complete theoretical framework to date to complement experimental spectroscopies in chemistry. Owing to its complexity, several approximations are needed in order to be able to apply QED in practice. This Review highlights how the breakdown of some of these approximations challenges our understanding of light–matter interactions and discusses how new theoretical developments can help to overcome these approximations.

Bio-interface materials inspired by natural systems that respond efficiently to various external stimuli can dynamically regulate molecular interactions between biological entities and material surfaces. In this Review, Gomes and colleagues describe advances in bio-interface materials that may provide insights into cell behaviour, biofouling and the production of on-demand devices with medical applications, among others.