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A cluster formed by calixarenes coordinated to a mixed metal manganese–gadolinium magnetic core has excited states that are populated at low temperature, and shows promise for magnetic refrigeration systems.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2009 was awarded for research into the structure and function of the ribosome, sparking debate about its significance to chemists.
Chemists are like detectives: they like to know 'whodunit' during a catalytic reaction. Combining advanced electron microscopy with intelligent molecular design has now provided strong evidence for the presence of a highly active site within a complex catalytic solid.
Shining circularly polarized light into a suspension of racemic amino-acid-derivative crystals in a saturated solution and then grinding them results in enantiomerically pure crystals. This evolution is shown to be directed by an unknown chiral product.
The conformational structure of a molecule can have important effects on its interactions and properties, but studying such effects is made difficult by the challenge of separating different conformers. Their spatial separation has now been achieved using an electric field — allowing the possibility of isomer-specific studies.
Magnesium is commonly found in rocks and sea water as well as living organisms. Paul Knochel relates how this element has also sparked a great deal of interest among chemists.
Proton-conducting solids are crucial components in a variety of electrochemical and energy-conversion devices. A porous metal–organic framework loaded with guest molecules displays both proton-conducting and gas-tight properties, affirming its potential as a fuel cell membrane.
In spite of the many functions of copper proteins within biology, those that contain a single copper ion can be divided into two classes, based in part on their spectroscopic properties. An artificial 'type 0' protein combines some properties of both, and may offer a route to stable catalytic processes.
The formation of a phosphine oxide with its strong P=O bond is the driving force for the classical Wittig reaction, but is wasteful and can pose problems during purification. A new development allowing the use of catalytic phosphorus reagents promises to clean up olefination chemistry.
New web-based models of scholarly communication have made a significant impact in some scientific disciplines, but chemistry is not one of them. What has prevented the widespread adoption of these developments by chemists — and what are the prospects for adoption over time?
