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Yujie Xiong: Winner of the Chem Soc Rev Pioneering Investigator Lectureship 2019

24 Jul 2019

On behalf of the Chem Soc Rev Editorial Board, we are delighted to announce Professor Yujie Xiong as the winner of the 2019 Chem Soc Rev Pioneering Investigator Lectureship.

Yujie Xiong received his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry in 2004, from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) under the supervision of Yi Xie. He then worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow with Younan Xia at the University of Washington, before moving to a position a Research Associate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with John A. Rogers.

He was the Principal Scientist of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NSF-NNIN) site at Washington University in St. Louis between 2009 and 2011.

He returned to USTC, where he is currently based, in 2011 as a Professor of Chemistry. He subsequently took on roles as the Head of Department of Applied Chemistry at the USTC and Director of Division of Nanocatalysis and Energy Conversion at the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale in 2018.

Prof. Xiong’s research interests include inorganic materials and devices for carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen fixation, methane conversion, water splitting and chemical production.

As part of the Lectureship, Professor Xiong will present lectures at three locations over the coming year. Two dates are already confirmed:

International Symposium on Energy Conversion and Storage Materials Conference 2019
30 July – 2 August, Brisbane, Australia
Prof. Xiong will give a lecture on 31 July 2019 at 1:00 pm on “Coupling Solar Energy into Catalytic CO₂ Conversion”.

European Research Society 2019 Fall meeting
16 – 19 September 2019, Warsaw, Poland
Registration is open for this event

Prof. Xiong will give a lecture in the “Advanced catalytic materials for (photo)electrochemical energy conversion symposium (stream N) on 17 September 2019 at 11:00 am on “Coupling Solar Energy into Catalytic CO₂ Conversion”.

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Chem Soc Rev prize winners at the EFCATS School on Catalysis

04 Jul 2018

The European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS) School on Catalysis was held 25 – 29 June 2018 at Castle Liblice in the Czech Republic.

The motivation behind the conference is ‘where experiment and theory meet in catalysis’. This year’s program included tutorial and plenary lectures from international experts in the field, including Professor Gabriele Centi (University of Messina), Emiel Hensen (Eindhoven University of Technology), Bert Sels (KU Leuven) and many more. The talks covered a wide range of topics such as industrial catalysis, two-dimensional materials, molecular sieves and petrochemistry.

We’re delighted to announce that the Chem Soc Rev poster prize was awarded to Nicolas Sadovnik and the Chem Soc Rev oral presentation prize was awarded to Chelsea L. Tucker.

Well done Nicolas and Chelsea (pictured below), from everyone at Chem Soc Rev!

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Rubén Martín: Winner of the Chem Soc Rev Pioneering Investigator Lectureship 2018

29 Mar 2018

On behalf of the Chem Soc Rev Editorial Board, we are pleased to announce the winner of the 2018 Chem Soc Rev Pioneering Investigator Lectureship – Rubén Martín. Our warmest congratulations to Rubén for being selected as the very first Chem Soc Rev Pioneering Investigator!

Rubén was born in Barcelona. He was awarded his PhD in 2003 at Universitat de Barcelona, where he worked with Professor Anotoni Riera on the total synthesis of glycosidase inhibitors. During his independent career, he has received the 2010 RSEQ Young Investigator Award, the 2011 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award, the Eli Lilly Young Research Investigator Award, the 2017 Marcial Menno Lectureship Award and the 2017 OMCOS Award.

He began his independent career at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, where he worked with Prof Alois Fürstner on the application of novel iron catalysts for cross-coupling and Alder-ene type reactions. He then moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he worked with Prof Stephen L. Buchwald and developed new synthetic strategies for metal-catalyzed C-C and C-N bond-forming reactions. In 2008, he joined the Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ) as a group leader, and in 2013 he was promoted to Associate Professor.

He is currently an ICREA Research Professor at the ICIQ and his group’s research interests focus on the discovery and development of synthetically useful organometallic methodologies.

As part of the Lectureship, Rubén will present a lecture at three locations over the coming year, with at least one of these events taking place at an international conference, where he will be formally presented with his Pioneering Investigator Lectureship certificate. Details of his lectures will be announced in due course – keep an eye on the blog for details.

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CSR Primer

07 Sep 2017

The Chemical Society Reviews Editorial Board is proud to announce a collection of Tutorial Reviews on some of the most cutting-edge, exciting research in the chemical sciences. This is an excellent resource or ‘primer’ for students, to help them learn more about various topics of investigation and to provide additional guidance in the next steps of their career.

This fall, students around the world will begin their graduate studies looking for that perfect match for their doctoral studies. Students often find the process of identifying a research topic and an advisor a stressful and uncertain process. Understandably, many students are only versed in the fundamentals of chemistry from their undergraduate coursework, with a limited knowledge of what constitutes the state-of-the-art in chemical research. With this in mind, the Chemical Society Reviews Editorial Board thought it would be timely to provide a collection of Tutorial Reviews on some of the most cutting-edge, exciting research in the chemical sciences. The Board sees this as a resource or ‘primer’ for students, to help them learn more about various topics of investigation and to perhaps aid them in their decision making process. To all the new graduate students, the Editorial Board and staff of Chemical Society Reviews would like to extend our congratulations to you on the next stage of your education and we hope this collection might provide some additional help in informing you about what might be the best path for your research interests.

Please click here to view our Primer.

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Optoacoustics for high resolution in vivo imaging

03 May 2017

Optoacoustic imaging is an emerging new technology that is gaining momentum within the biomedical research community due to its enhanced capability to provide high-resolution in vivo imaging.

Fundamentally, it is a three-dimensional technique that combines features from optics and acoustics. First, tissue is illuminated using short-pulsed light radiation and then undergoes thermo-elastic expansion. This sudden and rapid expansion gives rise to pressure waves with ultrasonic frequency which are detected and analyzed to produce images for study or diagnosis.

Interestingly, the photoacoustic effect has been around since the 1800s however, the surge of interest in this technology has been dependent on the development of adequate laser sources, sensitive ultrasound detection and processing technologies in recent years.

A recent review by Dr. Xosé Luis Deán and Dr. Sven Gottschalk of the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging in Neurhberg, Germany, Prof. Shy Shoham of the Israel Institute of Technology, and Dr. Ben Mc Larney and Prof. Daniel Razansky of the Technical University of Munich describes the development and new advancements in multiscale imaging of in vivo dynamics using optoacoustic methods.

Purely optical imaging techniques such as optical coherent tomography (OCT), fluorescent imaging and optical microscopies are broadly used for in vivo imaging and have led to numerous advances within medicine as function, disease progression and diagnosis at the cellular and biological scales can be analyzed in real-time. However, the limitation of purely optical techniques lies in resolving deep tissue processes. Beyond millimeter depth, photons are strongly scattered in biological tissues which limits spatial resolution and quantification.

Optoacoustic imaging on the other hand, combines the best of two worlds by capitalizing on the advantages of both optics and ultrasound which enables multiscale, non-invasive imaging deep within the tissue. Many optoacoustic imaging systems also allow wavelength tenability, which allows a single device to serve multiple purposes.

The review outlines some ground-breaking applications that have come about as a result of advancements in optoacoustic images and sensing methods. These include large-scale neuroimaging, visualization of moving organs, contrast agent kinetics, pharmacokinetic and bio-distribution analysis, treatment monitoring, molecular imaging, cellular and sub-cellular function elucidation and three-dimensional handheld diagnostics of human subjects.

The development of advanced optoacoustic imaging techniques is adding to the toolset of biological imaging by filling gaps in established methods. Since it uses nonionizing visible/near infrared light, it is safe for patients and ideal for frequent-use in routine and preventative examinations. The promise shown in preclinical and early clinical studies as well as the surge of technological advancements provides a solid platform for the application of optoacoustic imaging in mainstream medicine.

To find out more see:

Advanced optoacoustic methods for multiscale imaging of in vivo dynamics
X.L. Deán-Ben, S. Gottschalk, B. Mc Larney, S. Shoham and D. Razansky
DOI: 10.1039/C6CS00765A

Victoria Corless is currently completing her Ph.D. in organic chemistry with Prof. Andrei Yudin at The University of Toronto. Her research is centred on the synthesis of kinetically amphoteric molecules, which offer a versatile platform for the development of chemoselective transformations with particular emphasis on creating novel biologically active molecules.

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Outstanding Reviewers for Chemical Society Reviews in 2016

24 Feb 2017

Following the success of Peer Review Week in September 2016 (dedicated to reviewer recognition) during which we published a list of our top reviewers, we are delighted to announce that we will continue to recognise the contribution that our reviewers make to the journal by announcing our Outstanding Reviewers each year.

We would like to highlight the Outstanding Reviewers for Chemical Society Reviews in 2016, as selected by the editorial team, for their significant contribution to the journal. The reviewers have been chosen based on the number, timeliness and quality of the reports completed over the last 12 months.

We would like to say a big thank you to those individuals listed here as well as to all of the reviewers that have supported the journal. Each Outstanding Reviewer will receive a certificate to give recognition for their significant contribution.

Dr Kamal Bisht, Ram Chandra Uniyal Post Graduate College

Dr Stephen Goldup, University of Southampton

Professor Graham Hutchings, Cardiff University

Professor Burkhard König, Universität Regensburg

Professor Jonathan Lovell, University at Buffalo

Professor Ian Manners, University of Bristol

Professor Shizhang Qiao, The University of Adelaide

Dr Eric Rivard, University of Alberta

Professor Rein Ulijn, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center

Professor Hua Zhang, Nanyang Technological University

We would also like to thank the Chemical Society Reviews board and the General Chemistry community for their continued support of the journal, as authors, reviewers and readers.

If you would like to become a reviewer for our journal, just email us with details of your research interests and an up-to-date CV or résumé. You can find more details in our author and reviewer resource centre

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Royal Society of Chemistry and ACS Publications commit to ORCID integration

01 Dec 2016

On 28 November 2016, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Chemical Society Publications Division, ACS Publications, both signed the ORCID Open Letter committing to unambiguous identification of all authors that publish in our journals.

The official press release can be found here: http://rsc.li/orcid

In brief, this partnership with ORCID will resolve ambiguity in researcher identification caused by name changes, cultural differences in name presentation, and the inconsistent use of name abbreviations, thereby ensuring their contributions are appropriately recognized and credited.

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Chem Soc Rev 2016 Emerging Investigators themed issue – now published

09 Nov 2016

We are pleased to announce that the Chemical Society Reviews 2016 Emerging Investigators themed issue is now available to read online.

This issue highlights the very best work from scientists in the early stages of their independent career. This issue follows the great success of our 2014 Emerging Investigators Issue, as we have been overwhelmed by the community’s positive response.

This year’s issue includes a broad selection of reviews in various areas of chemistry, from catalysis to nanomedicine, together with materials and theoretical chemistry. Covering a wide geographic diversity – the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania – this issue also features our contributors’ profiles, with varied bios and colourful backgrounds including exciting barbecues, thrilling video games, vibrant Queen concerts and unforgettable Playmobils^®!

Read our 2016 Emerging Investigators themed issue today

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Journal lectureships 2017 – nominations open!

01 Nov 2016

We are pleased to welcome nominations for the 2017 Emerging Investigator Lectureships for ChemComm and Chem Soc Rev.

All nominations must be received by Monday, 30 January 2017.

Nominations are open for these journal lectureships – only one entry needed per nominee, as each nomination will be considered for both competitions as appropriate.

ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship
• Recognises emerging scientists in the early stages of their independent academic career
• Eligible nominees should have completed their PhD on or after the 15th September 2008, and should also have published as least one article in ChemComm during the course of their independent career

Chem Soc Rev Emerging Investigator Lectureship
• Recognises emerging scientists who have made significant contributions to their research field
• Eligible nominees should have completed their PhD on or after the 15th September 2008

Lectureship details
• Recipients of these lectureships will each be invited to present a lecture at three different locations over a 12-month period, with at least one of these events taking place at an international conference.
• Each recipient will receive a contribution of £1500 towards travel and accommodation costs for their lectures, as well as a certificate.
• Recipients will be asked to contribute a review article for the specific journal awarding their lectureship.

How to nominate
Self-nomination is not permitted. Nominators must send the following to the editorial team via chemcomm-rsc@rsc.org OR chemsocrev-rsc@rsc.org by Monday, 30 January 2017. Each nomination will be considered for both lectureships.
• Recommendation letter, including the name, contact details and website URL of the nominee.
• A one-page CV for the nominee, including their date of birth, summary of education, career and key achievements, a list of up to five of their top independent publications, total numbers of publications and patents, and other indicators of esteem, together with evidence of career independence.
• A copy of the candidate’s best publication to date (as judged by the nominator).
• Two supporting letters of recommendation from two independent referees. These should not be someone from the same institution or the candidate’s post doc or PhD supervisor.

The nominator and independent referees should comment on the candidate’s presenting skills.

Incomplete nominations or those not adhering to the above requirements will not be considered, and nominees will not be contacted regarding any missing or incorrect documents.

Selection procedure
• The editorial team will screen each nomination for eligibility and draw up a shortlist of candidates based on the nomination documents provided.
• Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide a brief supporting statement summarising their key achievements, highlighting the impact of their work and justifying why they deserve the specific lectureship for which they have been entered.
• Recipients of each lectureship will then be selected and endorsed by a selection panel composed of members of each journal’s Editorial Board. Winners of the lectureships will be announced in the first half of 2017.

NB: Please note that members of the selection panel from the ChemComm and Chem Soc Rev Editorial Boards are not eligible to nominate, or provide references, for these lectureships.

For any queries, please contact the editorial team at chemcomm-rsc@rsc.org or chemsocrev-rsc@rsc.org.

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Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016

05 Oct 2016

The prestigious Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 was awarded jointly to Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa for their outstanding contributions to the design and synthesis of molecular machines. Many congratulations to all of them!

To mark this special occasion, we would like to highlight our most recent review on this area:

Man-made molecular machines: membrane bound

Matthew A. Watson and Scott L. Cockroft
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2016, Advance Article

DOI: 10.1039/C5CS00874C

We also invite you to read the recent manuscripts published by the Nobel Prize winners in Chem Soc Rev and other journals in our portfolio:

Wavelength-selective cleavage of photoprotecting groups: strategies and applications in dynamic systems
Mickel J. Hansen, Willem A. Velema, Michael M. Lerch, Wiktor Szymanski and Ben L. Feringa
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44, 3358-3377
DOI: 10.1039/C5CS00118H, Tutorial Review

Cooperative capture synthesis: yet another playground for copper-free click chemistry
Xisen Hou, Chenfeng Ke and J. Fraser Stoddart
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2016, 45, 3766-3780
DOI: 10.1039/C6CS00055J, Tutorial Review

A metal–organic framework immobilised iridium pincer complex
Martino Rimoldi, Akitake Nakamura, Nicolaas A. Vermeulen, James J. Henkelis, Anthea K. Blackburn, Joseph T. Hupp, J. Fraser Stoddart and Omar K. Farha
Chem. Sci., 2016, 7, 4980-4984
DOI: 10.1039/C6SC01376G, Edge Article

End-capping of amphiphilic nanotubes with phospholipid vesicles: impact of the phospholipid on the cap formation and vesicle loading under osmotic conditions
Petra M. Erne, Peter Štacko, Derk Jan van Dijken, Jiawen Chen, Marc C. A. Stuart and Ben L. Feringa
Chem. Commun., 2016, 52, 11697-11700
DOI: 10.1039/C6CC05101D, Communication

Reversible gel–sol photoswitching with an overcrowded alkene-based bis-urea supergelator
Sander J. Wezenberg, Christelle M. Croisetu, Marc C. A. Stuart and Ben L. Feringa
Chem. Sci., 2016, 7, 4341-4346
DOI: 10.1039/C6SC00659K, Edge Article

Porphyrinic supramolecular daisy chains incorporating pillar[5]arene–viologen host–guest interactions
Maher Fathalla, Nathan L. Strutt, Srinivasan Sampath, Khabiboulakh Katsiev, Karel J. Hartlieb, Osman M. Bakr and J. Fraser Stoddart
Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 10455-10458
DOI: 10.1039/C5CC03717D, Communication

Synthesis of a metal-free coordinating ring via formation of a cleavable [2]catenane
Frédéric Niess and Jean-Pierre Sauvage
Chem. Commun., 2013, 49, 10790-10792
DOI: 10.1039/C3CC46452K, Communication

Great expectations: can artificial molecular machines deliver on their promise?
Ali Coskun, Michal Banaszak, R. Dean Astumian, J. Fraser Stoddart and Bartosz A. Grzybowski
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 19-30
DOI: 10.1039/C1CS15262A, Tutorial Review

If you wish, you can read all RSC manuscripts by Prof. Ben L. Feringa, by Prof Jean-Pierre Savage and by Sir J. Fraser Stoddart.

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