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• April 27, 2024 | Green Revolution 2.0: Scientists Use AI To Create Carbon-Capturing Plants
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Chemistry April 27, 2024

Breaking the Oil Habit: How Synthetic Bacteria Could Revolutionize Chemical Production

The chemical industry primarily depends on fossil resources like crude oil to manufacture a range of chemicals, including plastics, dyes, and synthetic flavors. “Globally, it…

Cambridge Scientists Discover Simple “Twist” That Supercharges Clean Fuel Generation

Puzzling Scientists for Over 50 Years – A “Holy Grail” Chemical Mystery Has Been Solved

Revolutionizing Renewable Energy: Innovative Salt Battery Efficiently Harvests Osmotic Power

Revolutionizing Plastics: Safer, Greener LDPE Alternatives Unveiled

Extracting Pure Gold: Turning Electronic Waste Into Treasure

Unlocking the Secrets of Space Chemistry With Cold Coulomb Crystals

Trash To Treasure – Chemists Turn Metal Waste Into Hydrogen Catalyst

Organic Catalyst Discovery Could Reduce the Cost of Fuel Cells

Chemistry April 16, 2024

“Neutronic Molecules” – Neutrons Meet Quantum Dots in Groundbreaking MIT Discovery

Study shows neutrons can bind to nanoscale atomic clusters known as quantum dots. The finding may provide insights into material properties and quantum effects. Neutrons…

Chemistry April 13, 2024

A Molecular Moonlander: PPh3’s Movement Challenges Conventional Science

Nanoscale insight into molecular motion on surfaces. Researchers utilized neutron spectroscopy data from ILL to gain groundbreaking insights into molecular motion at the nanoscale, offering…

Chemistry April 12, 2024

Researchers Develop Simple Way To Harvest More “Blue Energy” From Waves

As any surfer will tell you, waves pack a powerful punch. We’re now making strides toward harnessing the ocean’s relentless movements for energy, thanks to…

Chemistry April 11, 2024

Powering the Future: Unbiased PEC Cells Achieve Unprecedented Efficiency

Over the last decade, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) process for overall water-splitting (OWS) has seen comprehensive development, particularly in the areas of new catalysts, methods of…

Chemistry April 10, 2024

The Power of Waste: A New Innovative Approach To Improve the Energy Efficiency of Carbon Conversion

Scientists at McGill University have developed a novel method to enhance the energy efficiency of carbon conversion, utilizing waste material from pulp and paper production….

The Future of Solar Cells and More – Japanese Chemists Develop Glowing, Self-Healing Material

A research team at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) has succeeded in developing a self-healing material that is also capable of emitting…

Chemistry April 9, 2024

Microbial Magic: Genetic Tweaks Unlock Superior Bioplastics

Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture-resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water. The Kobe…

Revolutionizing Clean Energy: Transforming Rare Earth Element Extraction

Scientists have developed an innovative method to separate lanthanides, crucial for clean energy technologies, by combining substances that attract either lighter or heavier elements. This…

Chemistry April 7, 2024

Japanese Scientists Unveil Game-Changing Material for Magnesium Batteries

Scientists at Tohoku University have achieved a significant breakthrough in battery technology by creating a new cathode material for rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs). This material…

Water-Soluble Small Organic Fluorophores for Oncological Theragnostic Applications: Progress and Development

• Ashanul Haque
• Khalaf M. Alenezi
• Wai-Yeung Wong

Pushing Boundaries: What’s Next in Metal-Free C–H Functionalization for Sulfenylation?

• Sandhya Chahal
• Jayant Sindhu

Reaction Pattern and Mechanistic Aspects of Iodine and Iodine-Based Reagents in Selenylation of Aliphatic, Aromatic, and (Hetero)Cyclic Systems

• Pankaj Kumar
• Aman Bhalla

Research Progress in Structure Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Small-Molecule Silicone Surfactants

• Wenhui Zhao
• Yuqiao Cheng

Recent Advances in the Application of P(III)-Nucleophiles to Create New P−C Bonds through Michaelis–Arbuzov-Type Rearrangement

• Biquan Xiong
• Minjing Yuan
• Ke-Wen Tang

Chemical Aspects of Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

• Mrinmoy Roy
• Milan Sykora

Unlocking Diversity: From Simple to Cutting-Edge Synthetic Methodologies of Bis(indolyl)methanes

• Pankaj Teli
• Shivani Soni
• Shikha Agarwal

Bioorthogonal Reactions in Bioimaging

• Eszter Kozma

Pt(IV) Complexes in the Search for Novel Platinum Prodrugs with Promising Activity

• Sainath Aher

Recent Progress in Phenoxazine-Based Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Compounds and Their Full-Color Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

• Houda Al-Sharji
• Rashid Ilmi
• Muhammad S. Khan

Transition-Metal Catalyzed Synthesis of Pyrimidines: Recent Advances, Mechanism, Scope and Future Perspectives

• Vipin K. Maikhuri
• Divya Mathur
• Brajendra K. Singh

Palladium N -Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Aminations: An Outline

• S. B. Umabharathi
• Mohan Neetha
• Gopinathan Anilkumar

Bioorthogonal Chemistry in Cellular Organelles

• Veronika Šlachtová
• Marek Chovanec
• Milan Vrabel

Photo-activatable Reagents for Bioorthogonal Ligation Reactions

• Heyang Zhang

Recent Advances in Bioorthogonal Ligation and Bioconjugation

• Florian M. Zielke
• Floris P. J. T. Rutjes

Progress of Metal Nanomaterial Controllable Preparation by Photoreduction

• Haifeng Han

Recent Advances in Palladium-Catalyzed [4 +  n ] Cycloaddition of Lactones, Benzoxazinanones, Allylic Carbonates, and Vinyloxetanes

• Mengyan Guo
• Panke Zhang

The Renaissance of Ferrocene-Based Electrocatalysts: Properties, Synthesis Strategies, and Applications

• Anitha Varghese

Principles of Photocatalysts and Their Different Applications: A Review

• Mohamed A. Hassaan
• Mohamed A. El-Nemr
• Ahmed El Nemr

Construction of 1,4-Dihydropyridines: The Evolution of C4 Source

• Yongchao Wang

C–H Bond Functionalization of N -Heteroarenes Mediated by Selectfluor

• Angel H. Romero

Functionalization of BODIPY Dyes with Additional C–N Double Bonds and Their Applications

• Huriye Ilhan
• Yusuf Cakmak

Recent Advances in MXene Quantum Dots: A Platform with Unique Properties for General-Purpose Functional Materials with Novel Biomedical Applications

• Elham Einafshar
• Nafiseh Einafshar
• Majid Khazaei

The Novel Organic Emitters for High-Performance Narrow-Band Deep Blue OLEDs

Recent Progress on Nitrogen-Rich Energetic Materials Based on Tetrazole Skeleton

Performance Regulation of Single-Atom Catalyst by Modulating the Microenvironment of Metal Sites

• Yanyan Zhao

Recent Progress in NiH-Catalyzed Linear or Branch Hydrofunctionalization of Terminal or Internal Alkenes

• Huimin Yang

Structure-Based Drug Design of RdRp Inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2

• Kiran Shehzadi
• Afsheen Saba
• Jianhua Liang

Photothermal Catalytic CO 2 Conversion: Beyond Catalysis and Photocatalysis

• Fernando Fresno
• Ana Iglesias-Juez
• Juan M. Coronado

The Intramolecular Povarov Tool in the Construction of Fused Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles

• Carme Masdeu
• Jesús M. de los Santos
• Concepción Alonso

Multicomponent Reactions Using C , N -Binucleophilic Nature of Aminopyrazoles: Construction of Pyrazole-Fused Heterocycles

• Tasneem Parvin

Laser-Induced Transfer of Functional Materials

• Connie Kong Wai Lee
• Mitch Guijun Li

Oxime Esters: Flexible Building Blocks for Heterocycle Formation

• Faeze Yousefnejad
• Fatemeh Gholami
• Mohammad Mahdavi

Spectroscopic Determination of Acetylcholine (ACh): A Representative Review

• Aleksandra Pollap
• Joanna Orzeł

Photocatalytic Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide from Molecular Oxygen and Water

• Patricia Garcia-Munoz
• Laura Valenzuela
• Nicolas Keller

Strategies Toward the Catalyst-Free α-C–H Functionalizations of Tertiary Amines

• Mohit L. Deb
• Pranjal K. Baruah

Solid-State Nanopore/Nanochannel Sensing of Single Entities

• Chuanping Zhang
• Xingzhu Wang

Synthetic Approaches, Biological Activities, and Structure–Activity Relationship of Pyrazolines and Related Derivatives

• Rajnish Kumar
• Himanshu Singh
• Ranjeet Kumar Yadav

The Rise of MXene: A Wonder 2D Material, from Its Synthesis and Properties to Its Versatile Applications—A Comprehensive Review

• Kamna Chaturvedi
• Vaishnavi Hada
• Sarika Verma

Conjugates of Tetrapyrrolic Macrocycles as Potential Anticancer Target-Oriented Photosensitizers

• Andrew M. Korolchuk
• Vladimir A. Zolottsev
• Alexander Y. Misharin

Critical Analysis of Hydrogen Production by Aqueous Methanol Sonolysis

• Aissa Dehane
• Leila Nemdili
• Muthupandian Ashokkumar

A Modern Look at Spiropyrans: From Single Molecules to Smart Materials

• Anastasia S. Kozlenko
• Ilya V. Ozhogin
• Boris S. Lukyanov

Aryl- and Superaryl-Extended Calix[4]pyrroles: From Syntheses to Potential Applications

• Ishfaq Ahmad Rather
• Pierre-Edouard Danjou

Promising Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Derivatives; A Case Study for Preparations, Fabrication Mechanisms, and Applications in Perovskite Solar Cells

• A. G. Al-Gamal
• Ahmed Mourtada Elseman
• Ashraful Islam

Shape and Stability Matter: Enhanced Catalytic Reactions via Sol–gel-Entrapped Catalysts

• Rosaria Ciriminna
• Mario Pagliaro

O -Benzoylhydroxylamines: A Versatile Electrophilic Aminating Reagent for Transition Metal-Catalyzed C–N Bond-Forming Reactions

• Sachin Balaso Mohite
• Arjun S. Kumbhar

Water-Soluble Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules (CORMs)

• Muhammad Faizan
• Weiqiang Zhang

Designs and Applications of Multi-stimuli Responsive FRET Processes in AIEgen-Functionalized and Bi-fluorophoric Supramolecular Materials

• Chia-Hua Wu
• Pham Quoc Nhien
• Hong-Cheu Lin

Greener Syntheses of Coumarin Derivatives Using Magnetic Nanocatalysts: Recent Advances

• Shohreh Zeinali
• Leila Zare Fekri
• Rajender S. Varma

Recent Advances in the Use of Dimethyl Sulfoxide as a Synthon in Organic Chemistry

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• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

Roberts group publishes synthetic chemistry research in Science

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (04/25/2024) – The Roberts group recently published a new paper in  Science that explores enabling the use of a previously inaccessible functional group for N-heteroaromatic compounds.  Science – the flagship journal for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) – publishes groundbreaking research across the spectrum of scientific fields. 

N-Heteroaromatic are an important class of molecules which are key to elements of pharmaceutical, agrochemicals and materials. Efficient and innovative methods to make functionalized heteroarenes are needed to make these critical molecules more readily available. One attractive method for the synthesis of N-heteroaromatic compounds would be the use of a N-heteroaryne – an aromatic ring containing a nitrogen atom and a triple bond. N-heteroarynes within 6-membered rings have been used as key intermediates for synthetic chemists, however after 120 years of aryne research the use of 5-membered N-heteroarynes has remained elusive. Notably, a computational model has predicted these 5-membered N-heteroarynes to be “inaccessible”, meaning they cannot be accessed synthetically due to the excessive strain associated with forming a triple bond within a small 5-membered ring.

The Roberts group hypothesized by applying principles of organometallic chemistry, forming 5-membered N-heteroarynes at a metal center would alleviate strain through back-bonding and allow access to this previously inaccessible functional group.  In a report which was published in  Science , the Roberts group achieved the first synthesis of 7-azaindole-2,3-yne complexes using phosphine-ligated nickel complexes. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy. Additionally, the complexes showed ambiphilic reactivity, meaning they react with both nucleophiles and electrophiles, making them an exceptionally versatile tool for the synthesis of N-heteroaromatic compounds. This exciting research breakthrough will have important applications in expanding the “chemist’s toolbox” for developing new pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials, and also provide fundamental insights on accessing synthetically useful strained intermediates.

This new work from the Roberts group was enabled by the National Institutes of Health, and by a multitude of fellowships held by the paper’s collaborators. Fifth-year PhD candidate Erin Plasek is supported by the UMN Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship;  fifth-year student Jenna Humke is supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program; both Plasek and Humke are supported by Department of Chemistry Fourth-Year Excellence Fellowships; and third-year graduate student Sallu Kargbo was supported by the Gleysteen Departmental First Year Fellowship. For leadership excellence of her research program, Courtney Roberts has been awarded the 3M Alumni Professorship, the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship, the Amgen Young Investigator Award, and the Thieme Chemistry Journal Award in the past year alone.

“It is incredibly exciting to see this work, which started out as a few lines in my initial job proposals, come to fruition because of the exceptional team of students and postdocs behind it. We are delighted to finally share this new functional group for 5-membered N-heterocycles with the synthetic community,” Roberts writes.

Founded in 2019, the Roberts group uses inorganic and organometallic chemistry and catalysis to solve fundamental problems in synthetic organic chemistry related to pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials. They have published work related to early transition metal catalysis, photochemical reactions, and inducing regioselectivity in metal-mediated aryne reactions. The group now consists of 14 graduate students, two postdoctoral associates, and one undergraduate researcher from a range of organic and inorganic backgrounds, which allows the team to take a multidisciplinary approach to solving research problems. They value diversity, collaboration, inclusivity, and radical candor in everything they do.

Roberts Group Website

Science Vol. 384 Issue 6694

Related news releases

• Hannah Kenagy and Melissa Ramirez join Department of Chemistry
• Taimeng Liang awarded ACS Division of Medicinal Chemistry Predoctoral Fellowship
• 2023 UMN Chemistry patents
• Jan-Niklas Boyn and Kade Head-Marsden join Department of Chemistry
• Frontiera, Massari, Pomerantz, and Tonks promoted to full professor
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• ACS Publications

10 Hot Topics in Chemistry so far in 2022

• Jul 8, 2022

In any field, there are always some current topics that get pulses racing. Chemistry is no different, so today we bring you our top ten hot topics of the summer. Grab an iced drink, and see if you agree with our run down…

AI and Big Data

At number ten, it’s artificial intelligence and big data in water environments. These powerful new tools are increasingly being used in environmental science to assess risks, examine contaminants, identify and characterize pollution sources, and to model water treatment processes. But there remain opportunities and challenges in applying machine learning and data analytics to solving environmental problems, and it is hoped that new techniques will significantly advance water-related research in the coming years. 1

10 Hot Topics in Chemistry So Far in 2023

Thermochemical processing of waste and biomass.

Next up: recent advances in biomass and wastes thermochemical processing. Earlier in the year the ACS journal Energy & Fuels highlighted developments presented by participants at a virtual symposium organized by the Washington State University Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Bioproducts Institute. The world is gradually transitioning from an era fueled by fossil power to one characterized by sustainability and renewable resources. Recent progresses the understanding of biomass thermochemical reactions are allowing research communities to visualize these in practical solutions to mitigate environmental issues. Contents within the issue fall into four areas: (1) fundamentals of biomass thermochemical reactions, (2) liquefaction technologies, (3) catalytic upgrading/refining, and (4) techno-economic analysis/material. 2

Next Gen Active Materials

At eight, bioconjugate biomaterials, and the next generation of active materials. Biomaterials are redefining modern medicine – from new chemical strategies to modify hydrogels, or biocompatible methods to stabilize proteins and peptides, biomaterials are changing the detection and treatment of disease. In addition, engineered systems reveal new insights into biological processes, including stem cell signaling, cellular motions, and tissue repair, with many applications in human health. 3

Advances in TB drug discovery and diagnosis

Or how about drug discovery and diagnosis in tuberculosis? Before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death from an infectious disease, with drug resistance limiting the effectiveness of current treatments. But recent advances in drug discovery and diagnostics promise new efforts to combat this global health threat, which may come back to the forefront as COVID recedes. 4

Smoking and chemical toxicology

At six, research into the chemical toxicology of smoking – with consideration of the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cannabis, particularly given the rise of lung injury cases associated with vaping. It is likely that both conventional and innovative chemical tools will play a major role in understanding the mechanisms of toxicity of tobacco and its related products, as well as the transformation of e-cigarette constituents during vaping. 5

Process safety in chemistry

Into the top five now, and our pick is process safety. Many industrial chemical incidents happen around the world every year, resulting in deaths, property damage, and disrupted supply chains. Systematically studying process performance and learning from the past is an effective way to prevent such incidents, with new research contributing to strategies for improving chemical safety across natural, social, management, and engineering sciences. 6

Catalysis and energy snapshot in China

At four, energy and catalysis, with a focus on China. Energy plays a central role in society, and the hunt for clean and sustainable resources is becoming one of the most important global issues of our time. Over the past decade, researchers in China have made extensive efforts and achieved significant advances in the fields of energy and catalysis – both in the understanding of fundamental mechanisms, and the development of efficient materials and devices. 7

Applied chemistry in healthcare

The top three hot topics in this selection all take us back into chemical applications in healthcare. At three is antifungal drug discovery. Fungal diseases cause millions of deaths each year, and can increase the morbidity of other bacterial and viral infections. Current treatments such as polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins are old, and often do not offer cure – as well as being associated with severe side effects. New research and development is needed to improve outcomes, and to keep pace with emerging pathogens. 8

Neglected tropical diseases

Coming in at number two, neglected tropical diseases, which affect more than a billion people worldwide in tropical areas and impoverished communities. This category of diseases includes schistosomiasis, which can damage the bladder, kidneys and liver, and other tropical parasites. ACS journals collaborated in a special virtual issue to showcase recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of these illnesses. 9

And our number one hot topic for the summer of 2022 – it’s vaccines. As we have all seen in recent years, vaccines are a key mitigation strategy against viruses. But their application is wider than just inoculating against infectious pathogens; indeed, they show utility in cancer and other diseases, and are driving new options for personalized medicine. Now, new materials and conjugation methods may simplify production and enhance outcomes. Furthermore, new biomolecules and display modalities can expand the reach of vaccines to target emerging and endemic viruses. Improved strategies to deliver vaccines and induce immunogenicity are critical to protect against future outbreaks. 10

All these topics have been covered in recent special and virtual issues of ACS journals. Visit the website to explore more, and connect with us on social media to tell us about your own favourite hot topics in the world of chemistry.

• AI and Big Data in Water Environments. ACS EST Water Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/aewcaa/vi/ai-big-data-water-environments .
• Recent Advances in Biomass and Wastes Thermochemical Processing. Energy Fuels Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/enfuem/vi/thermochemical-processing
• Bioconjugate Biomaterials: Leveraging Biology for the Next Generation of Active Materials. Bioconjugate Chem Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/bcches/vi/bioconjugatebiomaterials
• Tuberculosis Drug Discovery and Diagnosis. ACS Infect Dis Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/vi/tuberculosis
• Chemical Toxicology of Cigarette, e-Cigarette and Cannabis Smoking. Chem Res Toxicol Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/crtoec/vi/chemical-toxicology-cigarette
• Process Safety from Bench to Pilot to Plant. A special collaboration issue. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/vi/process-safety-bench-pilot-plant
• Energy and Catalysis in China. J Phys Chem C Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/jpccck/vsi/energy-catalysis-china
• Antifungal Drug Discovery. A special collaboration issue. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/vi/antifungals
• Neglected tropical Diseases. A special collaboration issue. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/vi/ntdday
• Vaccine Strategies. Bioconjugate Chem Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/page/bcches/vi/vaccinestrategies

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Researchers detect a new molecule in space

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New research from the group of MIT Professor Brett McGuire has revealed the presence of a previously unknown molecule in space. The team's open-access paper, “ Rotational Spectrum and First Interstellar Detection of 2-Methoxyethanol Using ALMA Observations of NGC 6334I ,” appears in April 12 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters .

Zachary T.P. Fried , a graduate student in the McGuire group and the lead author of the publication, worked to assemble a puzzle comprised of pieces collected from across the globe, extending beyond MIT to France, Florida, Virginia, and Copenhagen, to achieve this exciting discovery. 

“Our group tries to understand what molecules are present in regions of space where stars and solar systems will eventually take shape,” explains Fried. “This allows us to piece together how chemistry evolves alongside the process of star and planet formation. We do this by looking at the rotational spectra of molecules, the unique patterns of light they give off as they tumble end-over-end in space. These patterns are fingerprints (barcodes) for molecules. To detect new molecules in space, we first must have an idea of what molecule we want to look for, then we can record its spectrum in the lab here on Earth, and then finally we look for that spectrum in space using telescopes.”

Searching for molecules in space

The McGuire Group has recently begun to utilize machine learning to suggest good target molecules to search for. In 2023, one of these machine learning models suggested the researchers target a molecule known as 2-methoxyethanol. 

“There are a number of 'methoxy' molecules in space, like dimethyl ether, methoxymethanol, ethyl methyl ether, and methyl formate, but 2-methoxyethanol would be the largest and most complex ever seen,” says Fried. To detect this molecule using radiotelescope observations, the group first needed to measure and analyze its rotational spectrum on Earth. The researchers combined experiments from the University of Lille (Lille, France), the New College of Florida (Sarasota, Florida), and the McGuire lab at MIT to measure this spectrum over a broadband region of frequencies ranging from the microwave to sub-millimeter wave regimes (approximately 8 to 500 gigahertz). 

The data gleaned from these measurements permitted a search for the molecule using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations toward two separate star-forming regions: NGC 6334I and IRAS 16293-2422B. Members of the McGuire group analyzed these telescope observations alongside researchers at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (Charlottesville, Virginia) and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. 

“Ultimately, we observed 25 rotational lines of 2-methoxyethanol that lined up with the molecular signal observed toward NGC 6334I (the barcode matched!), thus resulting in a secure detection of 2-methoxyethanol in this source,” says Fried. “This allowed us to then derive physical parameters of the molecule toward NGC 6334I, such as its abundance and excitation temperature. It also enabled an investigation of the possible chemical formation pathways from known interstellar precursors.”

Looking forward

Molecular discoveries like this one help the researchers to better understand the development of molecular complexity in space during the star formation process. 2-methoxyethanol, which contains 13 atoms, is quite large for interstellar standards — as of 2021, only six species larger than 13 atoms were detected outside the solar system , many by McGuire’s group, and all of them existing as ringed structures.  

“Continued observations of large molecules and subsequent derivations of their abundances allows us to advance our knowledge of how efficiently large molecules can form and by which specific reactions they may be produced,” says Fried. “Additionally, since we detected this molecule in NGC 6334I but not in IRAS 16293-2422B, we were presented with a unique opportunity to look into how the differing physical conditions of these two sources may be affecting the chemistry that can occur.”

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