A general and scalable approach to prepare functionalized bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes is reported. The key reaction between alkyl iodides and propellane is performed in flow and requires just light; no catalysts, initiators or additives are needed. Combined with the subsequent functionalization, >300 bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes for medicinal chemistry have been prepared.

Dynamic supramolecular systems can be designed to adapt phases in a pre-programmable way. Here the transient nature of a gel system is exploited, in combination with the application of mechanical stimuli, to obtain soft materials with aligned fibres in a controllable way.

Synthesis of metastable materials away from thermodynamic equilibrium has been a challenge in materials chemistry, but thin-film methods often struggle to yield ground-state structures. Now, a synthesis pathway to thin films of stable layered ternary nitrides is revealed, and the tendency for metastable intermediate formation is discussed.

Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling between (hetero)aryl (pseudo)halides and base-sensitive and Lewis-basic (hetero)arylboronic acids is challenging, owing to potential side reactions and catalyst poisoning. Now, the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of arylthianthrenium salts with (hetero)arylboronic acids, under acidic conditions, is reported, enabling the efficient coupling of base-sensitive and Lewis-basic (hetero)arylboronic acids.

Site-selective C–H functionalization of silanes is challenging because of the presence of multiple C–H bonds in the same molecule. Now a general photocatalytic site-selective radical functionalization of organosilicon compounds is reported, enabled by the β-silicon effect, which activates β-C(sp³)–H bonds. These reactions are applicable to linear and complex cyclic silanes.

The use of large amounts of solvents is an obstacle to the practical application of nitrogen fixation using transition metal complexes. Here catalytic ammonia synthesis is achieved by reacting dinitrogen (1 atm) with samarium diiodide and proton sources, including cellulose, in the presence of molybdenum catalysts under solvent-free ball-milling conditions.

In situ reduction deposition is a scalable method for fabricating metal/MXene composites, but rational control remains difficult. Now an in situ reduction strategy for synthesizing metal/MXene composites with precise control over metal size, deposition site and nanostructure has been demonstrated.

Acidic CO₂ electroreduction is carbon efficient but suffers from low energy efficiency and selectivity. Here an interfacial cation matrix is developed to enrich alkali cations and increase the local pH at a Cu–Ag catalyst surface, improving efficiency. A 45% CO₂-to-ethanol Faradaic efficiency and 15% energy efficiency for ethanol production are achieved.

A mechanical exfoliation method for producing freestanding metal oxide ultrathin flakes is reported. The flakes can be transferred and integrated with 2D materials, providing a platform to investigate the fundamental properties of ultrathin metal oxides.

Palladium catalysis enables the cycloaddition reaction between vinyl-carbonyl-bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes and aldehydes or ketones for the synthesis of 2-oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes, an arene bioisotere. Enantiocontrol over the zwitterionic [2σ + 2π] cycloaddition process can be achieved using the commercially available (R,R)-ANDEN-phenyl Trost ligand.