Organometallic chemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

Biological and synthetic catalysts often utilize iron in high oxidation states (+IV and greater) to perform challenging molecular transformations. A coordination complex featuring an Fe(VII) ion has now been synthesized through sequential oxidations of nonheme iron–nitrido precursors.

Notwithstanding their success as strongly σ-donating and π-accepting ligands, to date no chelating bis[cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes] have been reported. Here the authors describe a chelating, C₂-symmetric bis[cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene] ligand, as well as its pseudotetrahedral complexes with iron, cobalt, nickel, and zinc dihalides.

The tunable design of molecular catalysts presents opportunities for the control of product selectivity in CO₂ reduction, yet to date, complexes capable of producing multicarbon products have been elusive. Here, a Br-bridged dinuclear Cu(I) complex that turns over C₃H₇OH is reported.

Bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)-borylene complexes are capable of capturing and functionalizing CO₂, but stable single-site-boron-carbon dioxide adducts are rarely reported. Here, the authors report the synthesis of a stable borylene-CO₂ complex as well as the functionalization of the captured CO₂.

Chiral luminescent materials are of increasing interest in various applications, but achieving a desirable balance of properties can be challenging. Here, the authors report the development of Eu-based complexes with chiral luminescence and aggregation induced emission.

A method is developed for the directional optimization of multiple properties without prior knowledge on their nature. Using a large ligand dataset, diverse metal complexes are found along the Pareto front of vast chemical spaces.

Although the light-driven generation of hydrogen from water is a promising approach to renewable fuels, the H–H bond formation step represents a persistent mechanistic question. Now light-harvesting molecular catalysts have been shown to self-assemble into nanoscale aggregates that feature improved efficiency for photoelectrochemical H₂ evolution.

Biological and synthetic catalysts often utilize iron in high oxidation states (+IV and greater) to perform challenging molecular transformations. A coordination complex featuring an Fe(VII) ion has now been synthesized through sequential oxidations of nonheme iron–nitrido precursors.

Didier Astruc surveys the numerous applications of ferrocene, from catalysis to materials and redox-related devices including biosensors and nanomedicine.

Palladium-catalysed dicarbonylation using two different nucleophiles enables the selective synthesis of unsymmetrical diamides and amido esters in a single step.