Going to conferences to share and learn about the latest science is a key part of being a researcher. Shira Joudan reflects on presenting their group’s research for the first time and guiding students through their first conference experiences.

Chirality in extended 2D structures exhibits fundamental differences from molecular-level chirality. This Perspective discusses how local molecular chirality is transmitted and amplified to form distinctive global chirality within ultrathin, single-crystalline 2D materials; it also explores the future challenges and potential of this field.

When one says the word alcohol to a non-chemist, it is typically in reference to ethanol, the first alcohol discovered. Chi Chen, Mahlet Garedew, and Stafford W. Sheehan toast ethanol’s past, present, and future.

The role of computers in the chemical sciences is changing. Previously the domain of the theoretical or computational chemist, advanced digital skills, including data analysis, automation and simulation, are becoming extremely relevant to all. Here, we discuss the importance of integrating digital skills into an undergraduate chemistry programme and highlight some work currently being carried out to achieve this.

Biomolecular condensates compartmentalize molecules without membranes. Understanding condensate composition is important given that their function relies on the selective exclusion or enrichment of molecules. Now, investigating small-molecule partitioning reveals variations across compounds, yet correlations indicate physical similarities between disparate condensates. Machine learning accurately predicts partitioning on the basis of physicochemical features, demonstrating the role of a hydrophobic environment in driving enrichment and exclusion.

The synthesis of C-glycosides relies on specially designed glycosyl donors, which are often unstable and require multi-step synthesis. Now a facile method for the synthesis of diverse C-glycosides from readily available and stable 1-deoxyglycosides has been developed. A ligand-controlled site-divergent functionalization of carbohydrates by C–H sampling/nickel-catalysed cross-coupling has also been realized.

Multiple bonds between heavier main-group elements may exhibit different properties and reactivity compared with their second-row counterparts. Now it has been shown that a NHC-stabilized phosphasilyne, a heavier analogue of nitrile, undergoes thermal isomerization to yield a phosphasilenylidene; this represents a rare example of heavier nitrile–isonitrile isomerization.

While Mo carbide catalysts have demonstrated excellent performance for CO₂ conversion chemistry, these catalysts require harsh synthetic conditions and have poor reaction stabilities. Here flame-synthesized unsaturated Mo oxides are shown to undergo carburization during the reverse water–gas shift reaction, and reaction-induced Mo oxycarbide active sites provide excellent catalytic performance.

Simultaneous functionalization of reactive and inert remote sites presents a powerful approach to access complex molecules, yet it is hindered by precise remote C(sp³)–H activation. Now, the accurate translocation of functional groups and remote C–H desaturation has been achieved in parallel through combining functional group migration and cobalt-promoted hydrogen atom transfer.

Zinc and manganese are commonly used reductants but their redox potentials in organic solvents have not been studied. Now, these redox potentials have been measured, revealing the impact of solvents and additives. The reductant potential substantially influences the performance of nickel-catalysed cross-electrophile coupling reactions, highlighting the merits of tunable electrochemical reduction.

When one says the word alcohol to a non-chemist, it is typically in reference to ethanol, the first alcohol discovered. Chi Chen, Mahlet Garedew, and Stafford W. Sheehan toast ethanol’s past, present, and future.

Going to conferences to share and learn about the latest science is a key part of being a researcher. Shira Joudan reflects on presenting their group’s research for the first time and guiding students through their first conference experiences.

The role of computers in the chemical sciences is changing. Previously the domain of the theoretical or computational chemist, advanced digital skills, including data analysis, automation and simulation, are becoming extremely relevant to all. Here, we discuss the importance of integrating digital skills into an undergraduate chemistry programme and highlight some work currently being carried out to achieve this.

Nitric oxide is at the heart of myriad environmental and biological processes. Pokhraj Ghosh and Timothy Warren explore the molecular interconnections and wide-ranging impacts of this molecule which is critical for the health of our planet.

In his previous Thesis, Bruce Gibb introduced us to the chemistry of Jupiter’s moons. Now, he takes us on a tour of NASA’s Europa Clipper, the spacefaring chemistry lab set to revolutionize our understanding of Jupiter’s most intriguing satellite.