Reviews & Analysis

The lanthanides comprise a series of 15 elements that have applications in many modern technologies, including magnetic materials and optics. Their chemistry has been traditionally dominated by the +II and +III oxidation states; higher oxidation states, except in the case of cerium, have long been deemed unreachable. Now, an example of a stable praseodymium complex in the formal oxidation state +V has been observed.

Synthetic and biological chemistry are traditionally seen as separate fields. Now, a biocompatible chemical reaction enables an engineered microbe to convert plastic waste into valuable compounds under mild, cell-friendly conditions.

Chemists first synthesized acylsulfenic acids in the 1990s, but natural products containing this labile moiety have so far not been isolated. The identification of a new natural product, sulfenicin, and the characterization of its biosynthesis now suggest this functional group is widespread among bacteria, hinting at an undiscovered subclass of natural products.

Hydration frustration — such as burying polar residues or exposing hydrophobic ones — is a hallmark of protein chemistry and critical for biological functions. Now, such frustration can be designed using synthetic copolymers, without the need for defined sequence or structure.

We developed ChemBench as a framework for the evaluation of large language models (LLMs). Our findings reveal that leading LLMs outperform expert chemists in chemical knowledge and reasoning across diverse topics, while highlighting critical limitations that require further development.

Gold redox catalysis has remained challenging owing to the high redox potential of the Au(I)/Au(III) couple (E° = 1.41 V). Now this challenge has been resolved by employing bidentate N-ligands with Au(I) catalysts in combination with hydrogen peroxide as a green and cost-effective oxidant.

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological aggregation of tau, which forms distinct polymorphic structures in a disease-specific manner. A recent study presents macrocyclic tau-mimicking peptides that structurally and functionally resemble these disease-associated folds, providing new tools for studying tau aggregation and potential therapeutic strategies.

Better control over excited state proton-coupled electron transfer reactions may lead to considerable advances in the ever-expanding field of photocatalysis. Now, pressurizing an excited state system reveals insights into the mechanism behind such photochemical reactions.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are linked to a plethora of human diseases, but the efficacy of drugs that target GPCRs often varies between patients. Now, a link has been established between the gut microbiome and GPCR drug metabolism, in which the identities of the microbes directly influence the metabolites formed and the host drug response.

The oxygen evolution reaction provides the protons and electrons for renewable electrochemical conversions, but this process requires high potentials and shows complex mechanistic behaviours. Now, operando spectroscopy reveals the pH-dependence of cobalt oxides to arise from pH-dependent surface redox changes.

NMR spectroscopy is a critical tool for linking protein structure, dynamics and interactions to protein function, but is challenging to apply to high-molecular-weight proteins. The chemical synthesis of an NMR probe combines the advantages of four different nuclei, ¹H, ²H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F, to achieve optimal resolution for these larger systems.

Boracyclobutenes and their benzannulated derivatives are a rare class of highly reactive compounds, of which only a few examples have been sporadically obtained by thermal routes. Now, a photochemical strategy provides reliable access to a broad scope of bench-stable boron heterocycles.

Interactions such as van der Waals forces are generally considered too weak to govern the assembly of stable porous materials. Now, it has been shown that stable open frameworks can be assembled through van der Waals interactions.

Activating the extremely stable N≡N triple bond usually requires transition metal catalysts. Now, a Ba-Si orthosilicate oxynitride-hydride is found to catalyse ammonia formation without transition metals.

Nuclear spins are widely assumed to play a passive ‘spectator’ role in chemical reactions. State-resolved measurements of ultracold Rb–KRb collisions now reveal that these spins are active participants in the collisional dynamics — posing new challenges for theoretical methods and offering fresh insight into the mysteriously ‘sticky’ collisions of ultracold molecules.

A photoswitchable, DNA structure-specific small-molecule probe, named G4switch, has been developed for the reversible targeting of DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) in vitro and within cells. This versatile chemical tool enables precise, light-controlled modulation of G4-mediated gene expression and cell proliferation.

Borophene is a two-dimensional allotrope of boron that features anisotropic metallicity, polymorphism and amenability to heterostructure integration. This Review highlights recent progress in borophene research and outlines prospective pathways for accelerating the fundamental science and applications of borophene.

In nature, catalytic functions are typically restricted to proteins and ribozymes. Now, a synthetic glycan capable of catalysing a chemical reaction is demonstrated. The folded glycan scaffold positions an aromatic recognition site in proximity to a reactive functional group. This glycan catalyst accelerates the Pictet–Spengler functionalization of tryptophan and tryptophan-containing peptides in water.

Proton pump inhibitors, commonly prescribed for excessive gastric acid secretion, may lead to unexpected side effects. Now a chemoproteomic method enables a comprehensive profiling of their off-target interactions, offering valuable insights into their mechanism of action in living cells.

Recyclable alternatives to polyethylene plastics — that do not sacrifice its valuable properties — are highly desirable. Now, an earth-abundant manganese catalyst has transformed plant-based alcohols into polyethylene mimics that combine versatile performances with complete recyclability.