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d-cyclodextrins are naturally occurring macrocyclic oligosaccharides that act as hosts for hydrophobic guests and are produced on a multi-tonne scale. Now, using chemical synthesis, mirror-image cyclodextrins are produced from l- instead of d-glucose units.
The making of mirror-image versions of naturally occurring cyclodextrins (CDs) is challenging and constitutes an untouched goal of the CD community. Now a concise approach is developed for the diastereoselective synthesis of three mirror-image CDs in an efficient and scalable manner.
Methods for enzymatic C–F bond formation are rare. Now an enzymatic method for enantioselective C(sp3)–F bond formation is reported, through reprogramming non-haem iron enzyme (S)-2-hydroxypropylphosphonate epoxidase. Mechanistic studies reveal that the process proceeds through an iron-mediated radical fluorine transfer process.
Non-canonical amino acids are important building blocks in the synthesis of natural products, peptides and drugs. Now, a one-pot chemoenzymatic approach to synthesize branched azacyclic non-canonical amino acids is reported. This method combines enzymatic transamination of 2,n-diketoacids and stereocontrolled chemical reduction to provide the desired products with high stereoselectivity.
The controlled growth of thin films of conjugated metal–organic frameworks is reported using an on-liquid-gallium surface synthesis strategy under chemical vapour deposition conditions. The surface flatness of the thin films is a tenfold improvement compared with samples synthesized by traditional routes.
A series of molecular rare-earth telluride clusters incorporating a three-centre, four-electron, tri-tellurido ligand (Te34−) are reported. These atomically precise clusters, possessing ultralow band gaps comparable to those of monocrystalline silicon and gallium arsenide, are potentially applicable as quantum materials and for optoelectronic applications.
Coupling an exergonic process with an orthogonal, endergonic one has opened the door to drive artificial systems away from equilibrium. Now, this concept is used to bias the outcome of an uphill chemical reaction.
Synthesis of fuels and chemicals from renewable biomass is an important way to achieve sustainable development. This Review summarizes catalyst design for steering interfacial charge transfer and radical intermediate reactions in photocatalytic biorefineries.
By systematically exploring a large chemical space using automated experimentation, a high-performing organic photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution is discovered.
Artificial intelligence is used to automate the synthesis of single molecules using the tip of a scanning probe microscope, as well as to extract chemical information from these reactions.
Spontaneous reactions proceed thermodynamically downhill, limiting transformations to those that are exergonic. Now a chemically fuelled endergonic synthesis is reported in which a Diels–Alder reaction is driven uphill by a ratchet mechanism.
An efficient molecular nanojunction photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution is identified from a combinatorial molecular library, assisted by a materials acceleration platform, which is then scaled-up to the litre scale using flow synthesis.
Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials are promising photocatalysts for solar-driven fuel production from CO2. Here, built on a literature survey and data macroanalysis, we examine the development of MOFs as photocatalysts for CO2 conversion, while assessing pitfalls and opportunities.
Three closely related proline-based ligands give rise to different catalytic systems in asymmetric dialkylzinc addition reactions. Mechanistic studies reveal that monomeric, dimeric and product–catalyst complexes and aggregates larger than dimers are all catalytically active.
Control of atoms with single-atom precision is a key challenge in nanoscience. Now an electron beam approach to engineer shielded metal atoms in transition metal dichalcogenides is proposed. This method can create diverse atomic vacancies, leading to interesting magnetic and electronic properties.
Multicomponent catalytic reactions that generate enantioenriched boronic esters are underdeveloped. Now an N-heterocyclic carbene–nickel catalyst promotes enantioselective alkene 1,2-carboboration to access multifunctional alkylboronates, bearing a tertiary or quaternary β-stereocentre.
Metal–organic frameworks are important catalysts for photocatalytic CO2 reduction but if the field is to continue to advance, then reporting of photocatalytic metrics and practices must be standardized.