Crucial Role of the Chaperonin GroES/EL for Heterologous Production of the Soluble Methane Monooxygenase from Methylomonas methanica MC09

Methane monooxygenase: The chaperonin GroES/EL enables folding and correct assembly of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) heterologously produced in Escherichia coli. The production of recombinant sMMO will enable a variety of novel biotechnological applications in future.

[Research Articles]
Domenic Zill, Elisabeth Lettau, Christian Lorent, Dr. Franziska Seifert, Dr. Praveen K. Singh, Prof. Dr. Lars Lauterbach
doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202200195

Chemical Modifications for a Next Generation of Nucleic Acid Aptamers

Cubane aptamer (cubamer) is a chemically modified nucleic acid aptamer incorporating cubane moieties into the nucleotide bases. The Figure shows a cubamer in complex with the malaria biomarker Plasmodium vivax lactate dehydrogenase (PvLDH), with high specificity relative to Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH). Such specificity has not been possible with conventional DNA aptamers. This example demonstrates the enhanced functionality of modified aptamers. Herein, we review the chemistry, synthesis, selection, and application of such modified aptamers.

[Reviews]
Kwing Yeung Chan, Andrew Brian Kinghorn, Marcel Hollenstein, Julian Alexander Tanner
doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202200006

3D-Printed Structured Reactor with Integrated Single-Atom Catalyst Film for Hydrogenation

A structured 3D-printed microreactor coated with a single-atom catalytic layer is presented and evaluated for continuous-flow hydrogenations. The work paves the way for the practical and industrial-scale utilization of single-atom catalysts in structured form.

[Research Articles]
Prof. Gianvito Vil�, Dr. Derrick Ng, Dr. Zongli Xie, Ivan Martinez-Botella, Dr. John Tsanaktsidis, Dr. Christian H. Hornung
doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202101941

Insights into Fe Species Structure-Performance Relationship for Direct Methane Conversion toward Oxygenates over Fe-MOR Catalysts

Fe species: Highly dispersed monomeric and dimeric Fe species on H-MOR can efficiently homogenize H2O2 to active hydroxyl groups for mild methane partial oxidation, while Fe clusters decompose H2O2 into inactive O2.

[Research Articles]
Zhihao Fang, Mengyuan Huang, Dr. Bing Liu, Jie Chen, Dr. Feng Jiang, Dr. Yuebing Xu, Prof. Xiaohao Liu
doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202200218

Electrochemical Pretreatment of Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Formation for Enhanced Li4Ti5O12 Anode Performance in a Molten Li−Ca Binary Salt Hydrate Electrolyte

Li−Ca binary salt hydrate: Significant improvement in the cycle performance of a Li4Ti5O12 electrode was achieved using a Li−Ca binary salt hydrate (LCH) electrolyte in combination with an optimized electrochemical pretreatment process. The LCH electrolyte provided less water-soluble Ca-based SEI components, and careful pretreatment process enabled the formation of a thicker SEI layer on the Li4Ti5O12 electrode, leading to 95.5 % capacity retention over 50 cycles.

[Research Articles]
Shinji Kondou, Yoshifumi Watanabe, Prof. Kaoru Dokko, Prof. Masayoshi Watanabe, Prof. Kazuhide Ueno
doi.org/10.1002/celc.202200061

Multienzyme Biocatalytic Cascade Systems in Porous Organic Frameworks for Biosensing

New strategies for spatially organizing multienzyme biocatalytic cascades using porous organic frameworks are discussed in this Concept article, describing how this new bio-nanosystem that integrates framework and enzyme functions can be designed as a versatile biosensing platform.

[Concepts]
Rui Gao, Ningyi Zhong, Prof. Siming Huang, Shuocong Li, Prof. Guosheng Chen, Prof. Gangfeng Ouyang
doi.org/10.1002/chem.202200074

Low-Temperature Isolation of a Labile Silylated Hydrazinium-yl Radical Cation, [(Me3Si)2N−N(H)SiMe3].+

Radical hydrazinium: A highly labile hydrazinium-yl radical cation, [(Me3Si)2N−N(H)SiMe3].+, formed by a one-electron oxidation of tris(trimethylsilyl) hydrazine, (Me3Si)2N−N(H)SiMe3, with silver salts is presented. The structural and electronic parameters of the hydrazinium-yl radical cation were elucidated, revealing that the spin density in the isolated radical is mainly localized along the N−N unit of the hydrazine moiety.

[Research Articles]
Dr. Fabian Reiß, Dr. Alexander Villinger, Dr. Harald Brand, Dr. Wolfgang Baumann, Dr. Dirk Hollmann, Prof. Dr. Axel Schulz
doi.org/10.1002/chem.202200854

Reactivity of Diphenylberyllium as a Br�nsted Base and Its Synthetic Application

The Brønsted basic properties of diphenylberyllium have been used to cleanly produce a range of important benchmark compounds. The long-suspected structure of [Be3(OtBu)6] is finally verified, and shown to be static in solution; the NHC-stabilised beryllium Grignard is the first of its kind. The stark differences between Be−N and Be−P interactions are also evidenced here.

[Research Articles]
Dr. Lewis R. Thomas-Hargreaves, Chantsalmaa Berthold, William Augustinov, Dr. Matthias M�ller, Dr. Sergei I. Ivlev, Dr. Magnus R. Buchner
doi.org/10.1002/chem.202200851

Development of Fluorophosphoramidate as a Biocompatibly Transformable Functional Group and its Application as a Phosphate Prodrug for Nucleoside Analogs

A new type of biocompatible phosphate analog, the fluorophosphoramidate (FPA) functional group, was developed. With the appropriate molecular design, the FPA group can be converted into the corresponding phosphate group in cells and is thus applicable as a phosphate prodrug for nucleoside analogs. One of the several FPA-gemcitabine prodrugs showed effectively high toxicity toward pancreatic cancer cells, demonstrating the effectiveness of FPA-based prodrugs.

[Research Articles]
Yuki Yoshida, Ti Zheng, Wataru Tanabe, Dr. Fumiaki Tomoike, Dr. Fumitaka Hashiya, Prof. Dr. Tetsuro Suzuki, Shuto Hirota, Dr. Yuriko Saiki, Prof. Dr. Akira Horii, Dr. Akiyoshi Hirayama, Prof. Dr. Tomoyosi Soga, Dr. Yasuaki Kimura, Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Abe
doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.202200188

Visualizing a Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal [2+2] Photodimerization through its Lattice Dynamics: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

The single-crystal-to-single-crystal photodimerization of the bromide salt of the 4-aminocinnamic acid, taken as a model system for this class of reactions, is demonstrated to display a clear spectral signature in a low-wavenumber Raman investigation assisted by dispersion-corrected DFT simulations.

[Research Articles]
Dr. Andrea Giunchi, Lorenzo Pandolfi, Dr. Tommaso Salzillo, Prof. Aldo Brillante, Prof. Raffaele G. Della Valle, Dr. Simone d'Agostino, Prof. Elisabetta Venuti
doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202200168

Tuning the Structure and Properties of N-doped Positively Charged Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Incorporation of N-atoms into the inner rings of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) results in significant planarity deviation and molecular dipole moment change. On the other hand, the induced current densities and aromatic character remain practically unchanged relative to the corresponding undoped PAH molecules.

[Research Articles]
Dr. Slavko Radenković, Prof. Dr. Željko Tomović
doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202200125

Modeling of the Simultaneous Hydrogen Evolution and Cobalt Electrodeposition

Two in one: The complex process of simultaneous cobalt deposition and hydrogen evolution is described using a two-plate mathematical model (I plate is the GCE, II plate is the deposited cobalt layer). The kinetic parameters are determined from the experimental curves. The qualitative and quantitative fit of the model to the experimental data is investigated.

[Research Articles]
Dr. Piotr M. Skitał, Aleksandra J. Domańska
doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202200148

A Review on Carbon Quantum Dot Based Semiconductor Photocatalysts for the Abatement of Refractory Pollutants

Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) offer a variety of features and can act as an efficient semiconductor photocatalyst for the treatment of several environmental pollutants. This review summarizes various CQDs and their hybrid-based photocatalysts that can be potentially used to remove water pollutants with the help of visible light.

[Reviews]
Athulya M., Bony K. John, Anu Rose Chacko, Chitra Mohan, Dr. Beena Mathew
doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202100873

Electrocatalytic Reduction of N2 to NH3 Over Defective 1T′-WX2 (X=S, Se, Te) Monolayers

No limits: Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia is catalyzed by WX2 (X=S, Se, Te) monolayers in the 1T′ phase with antisite defects exhibiting low limiting potentials (≈0.2 V), while the competing hydrogen evolution reaction is inhibited.

[Research Articles]
Mamutjan Tursun, Prof. Chao Wu
doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202200191

Construction and Activity of an All-Organic Heterojunction Photocatalyst Based on Melem and Pyromellitic Dianhydride

If life gives you melem… Melem is used instead of g-C3N4 to construct an all-organic heterojunction with pyromellitic dianhydride. The photocatalytic NO removal activity of the all-organic heterojunction constructed with melem is considerably higher than that constructed with g-C3N4. This is because melem has more −NH2 to form more heterojunction knots, which enable the effective transfer and separation of electron-hole pairs.

[Research Articles]
Yuxin Li, Zeyu Jiang, Prof. Guohui Dong, Prof. Wingkei Ho
doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202200477

Covalent Organic Frameworks Doped with Different Ratios of OMe/OH as Fluorescent and Colorimetric Sensors

Sensing with COFs: A series of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), [OMe]x−TzDa (X=2, 1, 0.5), are synthesized and their photochemical behaviors change significantly with the variation in doping ratios of OMe and OH. [OMe]2−TzDa, with a ratio of 2/1 of OMe/OH, showed the strongest fluorescence emission in water, resulting in its excellent fluorescence response to pH and N2H4 as well as colorimetric sensing of HCl and NH3 gases.

[Research Articles]
Jilu Yang, Yuping Cao, Wenbo Si, Jin Zhang, Jiemin Wang, Yi Qu, Prof. Dr. Wenwu Qin
doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202200100

A New Family of Renewable Thermosets: Kraft Lignin Poly-adipates

Renewable thermoset: Kraft lignin, a by-product from the paper and pulp industry is mixed with a cross-linking mixture based on adipic acid able to react with lignin under heat. The resulting material is a partially esterified mixture with thermoplastic-like properties. Such a liquid can undergo further thermal treatment inside a mold under pressure to yield a tunable thermoset without any additives.

[Research Articles]
Dr. Davide Di Francesco, Dr. Davide Rigo, Dr. Kiran Reddy Baddigam, Prof. Aji P. Mathew, Prof. Niklas Hedin, Prof. Maurizio Selva, Prof. Joseph S. M. Samec
doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202200326

Synthesis of Geminal Bis- and Tetrakisphosphonate Ester Derivatives and Their Coordination Behavior Towards Ca(II) Ions

Geminal Bisphosphonate (BP) Esters in Ca(II) Ion Coordination. A series of geminal BPs was prepared starting from their corresponding ethyl- or isopropyl (arylmethylene)phosphonate ester precursors. Complexation with CaCl2 yields the derived coordination compounds [Ca(H2O)2(L1-L3)2]Cl2 or [Ca(L8)Cl2]n. Their structures in the solid- (SCXRD) as well as solution-state (1H DOSY NMR) are evaluated and comprehensively compared to literature data.

[Research Articles]
Dr. Ingo Koehne, Prof. Dr. Rudolf Pietschnig
doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202200194

Quinazoline-Assisted ortho-Halogenation with N-Halosuccinimides through Pd(II)-Catalyzed C(sp2)−H Activation

Herein, palladium(II)-catalyzed halogenation of 2-phenylquinazolines using N-halosuccinimides as halogen sources was described via C−H activation under mild reaction conditions. A series of halogen-substituted 2-arylquinazolines were synthesized through C−H functionalization.

[Research Articles]
Yong Wang, Hui Wang, Qifan Yang, Shihua Xie, Prof. Hongjun Zhu
doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202200316

Ecological and Economic Efforts in the Development of Molecular Sensors for the Optical Detection of Cyanide Ions

This Review summarizes recent advances in optical molecular probes used to detect cyanide ions based on five representative families of probes containing triphenylamine, BODIPY, coumarin, pyrene, and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine. In particular, the analysis focuses on the sustainable synthesis of compounds considering some environmental and economic factors.

[Reviews]
Dr. Alexis Tigreros, Prof. Dr. Jaime Portilla
doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202200249

Chemical Biology of αGalCer: A Chemist's Toolbox for the Stimulation of Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) Cells

A guide to the chemist's toolbox for the stimulation of invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells. This Review encompasses the synthetic strategies for the preparation of the iNKT cell agonist α-galactosylceramide (αGalCer), its TH1/TH2 skewing analogs, and other synthetic probes for the elucidation of mechanisms of αGalCer trafficking.

[Reviews]
Dr. Cecilia Romanò, Prof. Mads H. Clausen
doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202200246