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Two closely related species of fungus each produce one enantiomer of the same natural product. The biomimetic synthesis of both enantiomers reported here supports the unusual conclusion that the two species have evolved to produce a pair of enantiomerically distinct enzymes.

The spectrally resolved fluorescence of a zinc–porphyrin dimer is used to quantify intracellular viscosity. The porphyrin dimer also acts as a singlet-oxygen sensitizer, and enables real-time observation of a surprisingly large increase in intracellular viscosity that occurs on singlet-oxygen-mediated photoinduced cell death.

Rapid relaxation means that only very short acquisition times are needed for 2D-NMR of large protein assemblies and may allow the study of complex biological machinery

Metal ions are reversibly exchanged within single crystals in framework materials

The formation of a 'gold carbenoid' reveals that organogold intermediates have a highly cationic character

The quest for miniaturization of chemical reactors is leading to a tangled web of reaction vessels, each formed at the junction of polymer nanofibres.

Performing chemical reactions on ultra-small scales is important in a number of disciplines. Now, it has been shown that a junction formed by fusing two polymer nanowires preloaded with reactants provides an effective attolitre-volume in which reactions can be conducted on a zeptomole (10⁻²¹ mol) scale.

Adding a soluble 'stationary phase' to NMR spectroscopy samples enables the spectra of components in mixtures to be individually resolved

The deposition of corannulenes and two chiral derivatives on metal surfaces shows how the molecules lower their five-fold symmetry

Important mechanistic features of the oxidation of methanol over gold have been determined, resulting in a strategy to improve product selectivity

Adding low concentrations of aromatic organic cations to an aqueous solution in which polyoxometalate-based crystals are immersed leads to the spontaneous growth of tubular structures with controllable diameters. Tubes can be fused together to form junctions and are shown to act as channels through which liquids can flow.

Charge distribution can significantly influence the arrangement of ions in a metal complex and have a marked effect on reactivity.

Replacing the conventional ligands of uranium metallocenes by a group with a 'soft–hard–soft' coordination environment leads to new reactivity patterns and structures for low- and high-valent uranium ions

The direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide by gold–palladium alloy nanoparticles can be improved through a simple acid pretreatment of the carbon support

Hydrogen-bonded dimers of one and two base-pair nucleotides can be stabilized inside the hydrophobic pocket provided by self-assembled molecular cages. The results could bring DNA-based computing a step closer to reality.

Short nucleotides with just one or two bases do not generally form stable hydrogen-bonded pairs in water. Now, however, it has been shown that the hydrophobic interior of water-soluble coordination cages offers a sheltered environment in which stable duplexes can be formed.

A cobalt atom surrounded by ten germanium atoms forms a triple anion with an unexpected structure

Platinum chloride clusters self-assemble during the chlorine-induced corrosion of a platinum surface, which leads to the formation of a mixed Cl–PtCl₄ adsorbed layer

A nitrogen-doped nanotube array that is stable, has a large surface area and impressive oxygen reduction activity has been developed for use in fuel cells

An ionic form of element number five, resembling the sodium chloride structure, has been discovered at high pressure