Perspectives in 2022

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  • For 3D printing to reach its full potential, materials should be designed to take advantage of the unique processing flows involved. In this Perspective, we explore the design rules for printable materials and articulate how 3D printing can direct and enhance the functionality of printed systems.

    • Chun Lam Clement Chan
    • Jay Matthew Taylor
    • Emily Catherine Davidson
    Perspective
  • The relationship between synthetic discoveries and the materials breakthroughs that they enable is explored in this Perspective. It is concluded that most materials breakthroughs involve chemical compounds that were made out of curiosity or for an entirely different purpose. This conclusion has implications for the role of exploratory synthesis in materials research.

    • Anthony K. Cheetham
    • Ram Seshadri
    • Fred Wudl
    Perspective
  • Despite 40 years of study, the synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals still proceeds by a trial and error approach. This Perspective discusses the identification of the reaction intermediates during the formation of colloidal nanocrystals as the first step towards the development of a retrosynthetic approach to these nanomaterials.

    • Anna Loiudice
    • Raffaella Buonsanti
    Perspective
  • By showcasing the activating effect of using alkali-metal alkoxides as additives with polar organometallic reagents, this Perspective outlines applications of these mixed-metal combinations for arene functionalization via metal/halogen exchange and deprotonative metallation. Our mechanistic understanding of how these systems operate has revealed their complex and diverse mixed-metal/mixed-aggregate composition.

    • Leonie J. Bole
    • Eva Hevia
    Perspective
  • Asymmetric cyanation reactions promoted by chiral copper catalysts via a radical relay process are discussed in this Perspective. In particular, we outline the mechanisms of carbon radical formation and subsequent asymmetric radical cyanation reactions.

    • Fei Wang
    • Pinhong Chen
    • Guosheng Liu
    Perspective
  • Enzymes catalyse reactions with unparalleled activity and selectivity. Using chemical insights, researchers can now direct these powerful natural catalysts to perform new-to-nature transformations that solve challenging synthetic problems. In this Perspective, we show how chemists and protein engineers have guided nature’s genetically encoded and evolvable machinery to perform new biocatalytic transformations.

    • David C. Miller
    • Soumitra V. Athavale
    • Frances H. Arnold
    Perspective