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Transformations in organic chemistry are mainly limited to the incorporation of only one equivalent of the greenhouse gas CO₂ per substrate. Now, a visible-light photoredox-catalysed dicarboxylation of alkenes, allenes and arenes allows the incorporation of two CO₂ molecules into organic compounds.

Although Li–O₂ batteries offer high theoretical capacities, redox mediators are necessary to control intermediate reaction kinetics and to limit electrode passivation. Now it has been shown that a family of triarylmethyl cations can rival top-performing quinone-based redox mediators. Cations with sluggish catalytic rates were found to suppress surface-mediated O₂ reduction and achieve higher capacitances.

Species differences in innate immune sensing could impact nanomedicine development. Here the authors examine phagocyte recognition and show the defined molecular patterns on polymer-coated nanoparticles in different species are driven by ficolin and complement opsonisation.

The development of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that integrate robust chemical stability with efficient charge carrier dynamics remains challenging. Here the authors use a self-locking strategy to synthesize amide-like isoquinolone-linked COFs and demonstrate their application in photocatalytic reactions.

A three-dimensional metal–organic framework reversibly binds ammonia by cooperative insertion into its metal–linker bonds to form a dense, one-dimensional coordination polymer, enabling high-capacity ammonia uptake with intrinsic thermal management.

A computational platform describing the spatial and temporal interactions of monomers during the formation of network polymers provides structure–property relationships that are used to synthesize 3D network polymers with tailored functionalities.

Organolithiums are the prototypical nucleophilic reagent, but the direct use of them as nucleophiles in catalytic asymmetric synthesis has been problematic. Long sought after, conditions have now been identified that allow the highly enantioselective catalytic formation of C–C bonds by a direct S_N2′ reaction of organolithiums with allylic halides.

The synthesis of functionalized γ-lactams is challenging due to instability of the products and difficulties in controlling diastereoselectivity. Here, the authors report on the design and synthesis of a naphthyl-based pyrene-containing covalent organic framework and utilize it as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for synthesis of γ-lactams.

1,2-Azoles are privileged structures in many natural products and drugs. The authors report an atroposelective synthesis of two types of axially chiral 1,2-azoles, through vinylidene ortho-quinone methide intermediates.

A multitask graph neural network is developed with mechanism-informed reaction graphs for site-selectivity prediction of ruthenium-catalysed C‒H functionalization of arenes. The extrapolative prediction ability of the model is verified by experimental tests. Interpretation of the model deepens our understanding of the origins of the site selectivity.

Phosphonyl and carboxyl groups are valuable functional groups, however their simultaneous incorporation via catalytic difunctionalization of alkenes has not been realized yet. Here the authors report the phosphonocarboxylation of alkenes with CO₂ via visible-light photoredox catalysis.

Simple routes to self-assembling magnetic materials are elusive. Tew and colleagues produce copolymers containing cobalt complexes, which phase separate to give ferromagnetic properties at room temperature following heat treatment.

Achieving deep blue emission and high practical efficiency in organic light-emitting devices remains a considerable challenge. Here, the authors report late-stage double borylation of boron/nitrogen based multi-resonance frameworks, achieving maximum efficiency of over 32% in stable devices.

Electrocatalytic hydrogenations of organics allow water to be used as the proton source but are limited by low substrate solubility in aqueous media or by low performance in organic electrolytes. Now, a Pickering emulsion system for electrocatalytic hydrogenation is presented to overcome those issues, where the hydrogenation reaction occurs at the interface between the aqueous and organic phases.

Dynamic bonds offer unique advantages of adaptability and selectivity, yet, supramolecular electrocatalysts specifically tailored for 2e⁻ pathway remain unexplored. Here, the authors report a host-guest strategy that employs dynamic bonds to adjust electronic states through dual-channel regulation.

Chiral tertiary alcohols are an important structural motif, but the general methodologies for the synthesis are less reported. Herein, the authors report a Ni(ІІ)-catalyzed asymmetric alkenylation and arylation of aryl ketones with organoborons under air via a 1,5-metalate shift to obtain chiral tertiary allylic alcohols and diaryl alcohols.

The pore space in the metal–organic framework Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(bpydc)₆ can be used as a scaffold to grow precisely defined atomically thick sheets of metal halide materials, taking advantage of multiple binding sites to direct complexation of the metal ions; these metal halide nanosheets fill the size gap between discrete molecular magnets and bulk magnetic materials, with potentially unusual magnetic properties arising from this size regime.

Developing enantiodivergent catalysts capable of preparing both enantiomeric products from one substrate in a controlled fashion is challenging. Now, a manganese(III)-salen complex with a chiral photoswitchable phosphate counterion is reported for the epoxidation of alkenes in a stereoselective manner, where irradiation with light allows access to either enantiomer of the epoxide.

Enantioselective synthesis of chiral compounds is of high interest due to their importance in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, life science, and materials, though it is challenging to achieve enantioselectivity for allyl-allyl couplings. Here the authors report a Cu/Pd catalyzed coupling affording a series of optically active 1,5-alkadienes with either tertiary or quaternary carbon stereocenters.

Generally cubosomes are formed by the self-assembly of surfactants such as lipids and are used as adsorbents or in host-guest applications. Here the authors have shown that an amphiphilic block copolymer can form nanoscale cuboidal particles with a bicontinuous cubic phase.

Hydrogen fluoride has been encapsulated in C₆₀-fullerene using molecular surgery. The quantum rotor system has been studied by NMR and infrared spectroscopy as well as neutron scattering. The fullerene cage causes a small red-shift in the HF rotational and vibrational constants, and shields around 75% of its dipole.

A quinone-mediated hydrogen anode design shows that hydrogen can be used as the electron source in non-aqueous reductive electrosynthesis, for a more sustainable way to make molecules at larger scale.

Developing readily available and bench-stable reagents for the cyclopropanation of olefins is needed as traditional methodologies mainly rely on carbene-based strategies. Herein, the authors report a manganese-catalyzed cyclopropanation of allylic alcohols with sulfones via a borrowing hydrogen strategy under mild conditions.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vascular signaling agent, but its bioavailability is limited through rapid scavenging reactions. DeMartino et al. characterize the formation and bioactivity of NO-ferroheme, a stable NO analog that forms readily, bypasses scavenging reactions and mediates NO signaling.

The lack of efficient and diverse synthesis strategy has hindered the study of perifused cycles. Here, the authors report a metal-catalyzed cascade electrocyclization to access 5,6,7-perifused cycles, and demonstrated the versatility of this protocol in the late-stage modification of pharmaceuticals.

Simultaneous functionalization of reactive and inert remote sites presents a powerful approach to access complex molecules, yet it is hindered by precise remote C(sp³)–H activation. Now, the accurate translocation of functional groups and remote C–H desaturation has been achieved in parallel through combining functional group migration and cobalt-promoted hydrogen atom transfer.

The large-scale production of CS₂ presents both environmental and biological hazards, yet adsorbents capable of CS₂ capture remain scarcely explored. Here, Long and colleagues demonstrate that CS₂ is adsorbed in diamine-appended metal–organic frameworks through a cooperative and chemically specific insertion process.

Macromolecules with antimicrobial properties are promising materials for combating multi-drug-resistant microbes. Now, it has been shown that amphiphilic cationic polycarbonates that are biodegradable can self-assemble into micellar nanoparticles that can kill gram-positive bacteria, MRSA and fungi efficiently, even at low concentrations. Moreover, no significant toxicity is observed during in vivo studies in mice.

Tetrahydrofuran can be unexpectedly cleaved by bimetallic sodium–magnesium and sodium–manganese bases. At least six bonds are broken in the one-pot reaction, but all fragments are separately captured to form crystalline compounds.

Photoactive transition metal complexes usually feature 4d6 and 5d6 precious metals with charge transfer excited state lifetimes exceeding hundreds of nanoseconds, while complexes with earth abundant 3d6 metals exhibit lifetimes of less than 1–2 ns. Here, the authors report a tetracarbene manganese(I) complex with an excited state lifetime of 190 ns.

The formation of electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complexes offers a powerful approach for photochemical synthesis but has rarely been applied to kinetic resolution. Now chiral phosphoric acids can form selective EDA complexes with one enantiomer for preferential photoactivation, triggering radical reduction and enantioselective bond formation to achieve kinetic resolution of racemic azaarene-based alcohols, amines and fluorides.

Though exceptions exist, the 18-electron rule, which indicates that diamagnetic 18-electron complexes do not coordinate to a ligand to form a 20-electron complex, is widely accepted. Here, based on the tunable ligand design, the authors report the formation of 20-electron ferrocene derivatives through reversible nitrogen coordination to 18-electron analogues.

Tumor hypoxia is a major limitation in radiotherapy, and strategies to address this often fail due to high oxygen consumption. Here, the authors report a nanomaterial assembly for the simultaneous reduction in mitochondrial respiration and to supply oxygen to potentiate radiotherapy.

Transition-metal-catalyzed couplings of propargylic alcohol derivatives with organometallic reagents proceeds via two-electron transformations, which present limitations in scope and selectivity. Here, the authors present visible-light-mediated copper-catalyzed cyanation of propargylic oxalates to form allenenitriles via a one-electron pathway

Safe electrolytes for wide temperature applications of lithium metal batteries are highly demanded. Here, authors develop an ether-based electrolyte with 1,3,5-trioxane additive which renders thermoresponsivity, enabling lithium metal batteries in the range of −60 to 60 °C.

A wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds show π-aromaticity, yet for all-metal systems it has remained restricted to compounds with three to five atoms. Now, the anionic cluster [Th@Bi₁₂]⁴⁻ has been shown to exhibit π-aromaticity, with a significant ring current despite relying on the delocalization of only two π-electrons.

The scope of and knowledge about the chemistry of nonmetal-adducts remains very limited. Here, the authors describe nonmetal adducts of the phosphorus center of terminal phosphinidene complexes using classical C- and N-ligands from metal coordination chemistry.

Opposing forces generated by exopolysaccharide trail binding versus type IV pilus retraction generate a high cyclic diGMP–high cyclic AMP state in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that promotes social motility.

Nanoparticle catalysts can be highly active, but are susceptible to deactivation due to sintering under operational conditions. The Pt and Pd–Pt catalysts synthesized here are stable under demanding reaction conditions with temperatures as high as 1,100 °C.