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A renewed interest in C–H bond activation has developed on account of the recent increased availability of shale gas. Now, using a combination of surface science, microscopy, theory and nanoparticle studies, the ability of coke-resistant Pt/Cu single-atom alloys to efficiently activate C–H bonds in alkanes has been demonstrated under realistic catalytic conditions.
Most steps in peptidoglycan biosynthesis are understood, but the lipid II binding properties to the flippases MurJ and FtsW remain unknown. Now, it has been shown that lipid II exhibits preferential binding to MurJ, which is modulated by ramoplanin and cardiolipins. These insights into the lipid II binding determinants suggest roles for lipids in regulating substrate binding.
An integrated native mass spectrometry and top-down proteomics method using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance has been developed for the characterization of macromolecular protein complexes. This approach directly yields primary to quaternary structural information in a single native top-down experiment.
Short-lived intermediates in solution may react before undergoing thermal equilibration. This phenomenon is used here to achieve the ‘energy labelling’ of an alkoxy radical. The intermediate's excess energy varies broadly depending on how it is formed and can be determined from the observed reaction selectivity.
A practical realization of selective IR-driven reaction-rate control has been hampered by competing processes leading to sample heating. Now, the acceleration of a bimolecular ground-state reaction in solution using the IR excitation of a vibration connected to the reaction coordinate is demonstrated. The behaviour is monitored and understood using a combination of femtosecond IR-pump IR-probe spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.
Aminopalladation is a key step in a number of carbon–nitrogen bond-forming processes, but carrying out this step with intermolecular anti-Markovnikov selectivity has remained difficult. Such a process has now been developed by using an anionic palladium catalyst to generate terminal carbon–nitrogen bonds from alkenes.
