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Aryl functionalization of carbon nanotubes generates sp3 defects capable of quantum light emission. A multiplicity of possible binding configurations, however, leads to spectrally diverse emission bands. Now, it is shown that the structural symmetry of zigzag nanotubes and a high chemical selectivity for ortho configurations results in defect-state emission from a single narrow band.
Dynamic covalent chemistry offers promise for the formation of elaborate extended network materials in high yields, but the limited number of reactions available confines the scope and functionality of the materials synthesized. Now, nucleophilic aromatic substitution has been shown to be reversible, and thus self-correcting, enabling the easy synthesis of sulfur-rich materials.
In solid metals, electron orbitals form broad bands and their binding of adsorbates depends on the bandwidth. Now, it is shown that a weak solute–matrix interaction in dilute alloys results in extremely narrow electronic bands on the solute, similar to a free-atom electronic structure. This structure affords unique adsorption properties important for catalysis.
Surface engineering is an attractive route to tune the processability, stability and functionalities of 2D materials, but typically introduces defects in the resulting structures. Now, the issue has been circumvented through pre-synthetic functionalization instead; an isoreticular family of robust layered coordination polymers has been mechanically exfoliated to give functionalized crystalline magnetic monolayers.
A rapid, modular, stereodivergent and diversity-oriented strategy for constructing acyclic molecular frameworks bearing up to four contiguous and congested stereogenic elements has been developed. This approach can yield the target compounds with remarkably high levels of stereocontrol in only three catalytic steps from commercially available alkynes.
Measurements of vector correlations provide insight into the forces acting during molecular collisions, and are a stringent test of electronic-structure calculations. Now, non-intuitive dynamics of molecular collisions have been revealed by measuring the correlation between the relative velocities of the colliders and the molecular rotational angular momentum—before and after the collision—for NO(A 2Σ+) + Ne.
On-surface polymerization is a promising technique to prepare organic functional nanomaterials, but it has remained difficult to carry out on insulating surfaces. Now, the photoinitiated radical polymerization of dimaleimide on KCl, initiated from a two-dimensional gas phase and guided by molecule–substrate interactions, has led to polymer fibres up to 1 μm long.
Lipid membranes—which separate cells and organelles from their environment—experience tension during various cell processes; however, measuring membrane tension is notoriously difficult. Now, a new fluorescent, mechanosensitive membrane probe called FliptR has been developed. FliptR enables simple, direct membrane tension measurements in cellular and artificial membranes.
Organoclay/DNA semipermeable microcapsules with catalase-powered oxygen gas bubble-dependent buoyancy are prepared and exploited as synthetic protocells capable of programmed motility and sustained oscillatory movement.
Traditionally, strong-bond activation by transition metals has been achieved through an oxidative addition pathway. Now, a redox-neutral palladium(ii)-catalysed β-elimination strategy has been shown to activate alkyl C–O, N, C, F and S bonds to give an alkene that can be trapped with various nucleophiles. This functional group metathesis allows upgrading of amino acid derivatives and ring-opening of saturated heterocycles.
The polyoxoanion [P2W18O62]6− has been shown to reversibly accept up to 18 electrons upon reduction in aqueous solution. The resulting highly reduced solution can then be used either for the on-demand generation of hydrogen over a catalyst bed, or as a high-energy-density electrolyte in a redox flow battery.
The promise shown by metal–organic frameworks for various applications is somewhat dampened by their instability towards water. Now, an activated MOF has shown good hydrolytic stability owing to the presence of weak, sacrificial coordination bonds that act as a ‘crumple zone’. On hydration, these weak bonds are cleaved preferentially to stronger coordination bonds that hold the MOF together.
Light can selectively drive and control the reversible reaction between a nitrogen nucleophile and a photoswitchable carbonyl electrophile by inducing wavelength-specific tautomerization cycles. This enables external and bidirectional regulation of closed dynamic covalent systems via C=N exchange, resembling a light-powered bidirectional molecular-scale Dean–Stark trap.
Catalyst-controlled site selectivity without relying on the influence of a directing group within the substrate is a major challenge in C–H functionalization. Now a catalyst is described that selectively functionalizes non-activated primary C–H bonds in the presence of a variety of other C–H bonds and functional groups.
Functional group interconversion typically requires reactive reagents to irreversibly generate a desired product in high yield and selectivity. Now, a CO-free catalytic functional-group-metathesis approach can be used to interconvert aroyl chlorides and aryl iodides—two important classes of electrophiles often employed in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals—with the help of metathesis-active phosphine ligands.
Triplet–triplet energy transfer activation of disulfides enables the chemoselective anti-Markovnikov hydroalkyl/aryl thiolation of alkenes and alkynes—and can also be used for the biologically important hydromethylthiolation reaction. This fast disulfide–ene reaction is biocompatible and is tolerant of a wide range of functional groups. The triplet–triplet energy transfer sensitization process was studied in detail with transient absorption spectroscopy.
Heteroatom doping is a widely used modification method for carbon-based catalysts. Now, chemically defined sp-hybridized nitrogen atoms have been selectively introduced to the acetylene groups in ultrathin graphdiynes, resulting in good catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction in both alkaline and acidic media.
Although ubiquitous throughout chemistry and biology, the structure and transport mechanism of the aqueous proton in solution remain elusive. Through advances in ultrafast broadband 2D IR spectroscopy, the structure of the aqueous proton is revealed to have a charge-delocalized H5O2+ Zundel-like core arrangement with surprisingly persistent structural heterogeneity.
A simple amino acid can be recognized by a synthetic catalyst in a process that initiates the sequential reduction of cyclic dehydropeptides. An experimental and theoretical study provides evidence for a unique mechanism that involves unidirectional reduction to set four stereocentres around a macrocyclic ring.
Mechanistic studies of the hemilability of MIDA (N-methyliminodiacetic acid) boronates reveal the chameleonic behaviour of the BMIDA group. The superior migratory aptitude of BMIDA compared to hydride and the capacity to resemble a proton when nitrogen decoordinates from boron have now been exploited for the design of new boron transfer reactions.
