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Molecular scaffolds bearing 1,1-diaryl-substituted four-membered rings remain difficult to access using traditional synthesis. Now it has been shown that a modular, nickel-electrocatalytic sequence enables the programmable, scalable and chemoselective synthesis of these high-value motifs, offering broad utility across drug discovery and showcasing strategic applications to patented intermediates.

A chiral ammonium salt mediates a dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic α-aryl ketones by atropselective O-alkylation. Oxidation with DDQ gives access to C₂-symmetric and non-symmetric BINOL derivatives in high yields and with high enantioselectivity.

Direct oxidative methods for the enantioselective synthesis of heterobiaryl compounds that exhibit axial chirality remain elusive. Now, the use of an iron catalyst in the presence of a chiral PyBOX ligand and an oxidant enables the direct coupling of naphthols and indoles with high levels of enantio- and cross-selectivity.

Identification of a hyperstable boronate enables automated lego-like synthesis to access a wider range of three-dimensionally complex small organic molecules rich in Csp³–C bonds. 

Mechanistic details of Ni-catalysed functionalizations of strong sigma C–O bonds in synthetic chemistry have been elusive. Now, the identification and characterization of important Ni species, as well as the role of a ZnCl₂ additive and solvent in the coupling of aryl esters, are reported.

Starting with alkyl carboxylic acids, a simple olefin synthesis using any substitution pattern or geometry, based on amide-bond synthesis with nickel- or iron-based catalysis, is described.

Gold redox catalysis is an attractive synthetic method but challenging due to the high redox potential of Au(I)/Au(III). Now, a bidentate N-ligand-assisted gold redox catalysis using H₂O₂ as oxidant has been developed. It can be applied to various coupling reactions, including C(sp)–C(sp) cross-coupling, alkynylative cyclization and bicyclization coupling.

The self-assembly of block copolymers to form micelles has been used in applications such as drug delivery and composite reinforcement. Here the authors explore the use of fibre-like micelles of controlled length in the active layer of field-effect transistor devices.

Iterative approaches to synthesis have revolutionized the preparation and study of peptides, nucleic acids and sugars. This Review discusses whether and how such iterative syntheses can be applied more broadly towards an ultimate goal of developing a building block approach to the synthesis of most small organic molecules.

Without directing auxiliaries, the addition of carbogenic groups to unactivated alkenes is typically inefficient and suffers from poor regioselectivity. Now, a directing-group-free, nickel catalyst-controlled strategy has been developed, enabling the site-selective dicarbofunctionalization of a broad array of activated and unactivated alkenes.

The authors introduce a novel type of chemical bond termed collective bond, which is based on long-range interactions between atoms not considered to be bonded within the Lewis formalisms. Collective bonding occurs among a large family of widely used organometallics.

In comparison to the ubiquity of their chalcogenic thiophene analogs, selenophene-incorporated conjugated polymers are relatively scarce in the organic electronics literature. However, this scarcity belies the tremendous utility of selenophene in high-performance optoelectronic materials. In this focus review, we discuss the key developments in selenophene-based conjugated polymer research from the early polyselenophene investigations, through the detailed study of regioregular poly(3-hexylselenophene), to the state-of-the-art donor-acceptor polymers that have enabled advancements in the performance and functionality of various optoelectronic devices. Finally, we end with our perspective on the future of this field.

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.

Neurodesk is a platform for analyzing human neuroimaging data, which provides numerous tools in a containerized form, thereby ensuring reproducibility and portability.

Di-tert-butylphosphine is an important substituent in many phosphine ligands, however, its heterocyclic analogues have not yet been isolated. Here, the authors report the synthesis and isolation of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylphosphinane on a gram scale starting from ammonium hypophosphite, and its facile use as a building block in ligand construction.

Magnesium-sulfur batteries offer several advantages compared to lithium-sulfur batteries, including a more stable anode and lower material costs. Here, the challenges and prospects for both classes of batteries are discussed, including their outlook for practical energy and cost levels.