Chemical Society Reviews Blog

Themed Issue: Solar Fuels

20 Mar 2013

We are delighted to present the Chem Soc Rev themed issue on solar fuels. Guest Editors Siddharth Dasgupta, Bruce S. Brunschwig, Jay R. Winkler and Harry B. Gray introduce the issue in their Editorial:

Editorial: Solar fuels
Siddharth Dasgupta, Bruce S. Brunschwig, Jay R. Winkler and Harry B. Gray
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013,42, 2213-2214

The issue contains a collection of high-profile Reviews and Tutorial Reviews which introduce various key areas within solar fuels research. Here are just a selection:

Tutorial
Structure–function analyses of solar fuels catalysts using in situ X-ray scattering
Karen L. Mulfort, Anusree Mukherjee, Oleksandr Kokhan, Pingwu Du and David M. Tiede
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 2215-2227

Tutorial
Comparison of primary oxidants for water-oxidation catalysis
Alexander R. Parent, Robert H. Crabtree and Gary W. Brudvig
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 2247-2252

Review
Long-lived charge separated states in nanostructured semiconductor photoelectrodes for the production of solar fuels
Alexander J. Cowan and James R. Durrant
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 2281-2293

Read the whole issue online

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Spotting Quantum Mechanics at Work in Biological Systems

22 Feb 2013

By Iain Larmour, web science writer.

Quantum mechanical predictions reduce to those of classical mechanics in the macroscopic world; otherwise absurd situations would result such as Schrödinger’s cat being both dead and alive in the box. But does quantum mechanics play a specific role in the functions of complex biological systems?

An advance in the study of the photosynthetic light-harvesting process demonstrated that the electronic energy transfer might not follow the classical hopping mechanism but involve quantum-coherent energy transfer. This discovery relied on the development of new ultrafast spectroscopic techniques and these form the basis of this Tutorial Review by Elisabetta Collini from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padova.

a) Hopping and b) quantum coherent energy transfer mechanisms.

The state-of-the-art techniques, and their limitations, for the detection of quantum-coherent energy transfer in light-harvesting complexes are discussed. They include; pump-probe anisotropy, two-time anisotropy decay and 2D photon echo techniques.

Although the review focuses on photosynthetic energy transfer, quantum effects have been posited in other processes including; olfaction, magnetic sensing and even consciousness. The extent to which quantum mechanics affect these processes in physiological conditions has often been seen as a negligible curiosity.

This Tutorial Review explores the techniques, including the debate surrounding their use, for the experimental verification of the role of quantum effects in biological processes. It is therefore a must read for those who wish to experimentally explore quantum mechanical effects in other biological processes.

Related slides on “Energy Transfer in the Weak and Strong Coupling Regimes” are also available as electronic supplementary information (ESI) – these are free to access.

For more, read this Chem Soc Rev article today:

Spectroscopic signatures of quantum-coherent energy transfer

Elisabetta Collini
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CS35444J

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1,8-Naphthalimide Derivatives: Chemistry, Physical Properties and Activity as Anticancer and Fluorescent Imaging Agents

15 Feb 2013

By Jeanne Therese Andres.

Written by guest web-writer Kevin Murnaghan.

In this Review, which is part of the Alfred Werner Nobel Centenary Issue, chemists from the Gunnlaugsson group at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) describe recent advances in the development and use of 1,8-naphthalimides, primarily as anti-cancer agents. The scope and breadth of the review are impressive. The use of 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives as DNA binders and cytotoxic agents, as well as their mode of action, cellular uptake and cell selectivity are discussed and compared.

The group at TCD, among others, have prepared a large library of 1,8-naphthalimides. A richly diverse group of materials of varying complexity has been realised, enabled by a powerful, yet simple synthetic strategy. Materials designed to modulate the photophysical response of the aromatic unit are described, as are a range of bis-naphthalimides.

General synthetic route and numbering of 1,8-naphthlimide.

Examples of materials reviewed include mono and bis 1,8-naphthalimides derived from polyamines, amino acids, peptides, Tröger’s bases, and norbornanes. Details are given of effective therapeutics with varying naphthalimide substituents, and also with other aromatics or heteroatomics containing similar functionality. A part of the review is devoted to the coordination chemistry of selected derivatives with metal likes gold or platinum. Additionally, the properties of examples bearing organometallic and coordinated metal fragments such as ruthenium tris-bipyridine are discussed.

The absorption, excitation and emission spectra of a 4-aminonaphthalimide derivative in 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 (for structure 68)

The naphthilamide group can neatly interact with biomolecules such as DNA via several modes, including intercalation. This combined with favourable photophysical properties ensures that these materials make extremely useful dual function therapeutic and fluorescent imaging agents. Much qualitative and quantitative clinical information is presented. Best performing derivatives are identified and described in various stage clinical trials against selected cell lines and clinical models.

This broad, highly informative and concise Review should prove to be of interest to a wide range of scientists from pure and multi disciplinary fields. A vast amount of information is given and is well referenced, dealing with the physical, chemical, supramolecular and favourable therapeutic properties of 1,8-napthalimide derivatives.

Read this Chemical Society Reviews article today:

Recent advances in the development of 1,8-naphthalimide based DNA targeting binders, anticancer and fluorescent cellular imaging agents

Swagata Banerjee, Emma B. Veale, Caroline M. Phelan, Samantha A. Murphy, Gillian M. Tocci, Lisa J. Gillespie, Daniel O. Frimannsson, John M. Kelly and Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 1601-1618
DOI: 10.1039/C2CS35467E

Kevin Murnaghan is a guest web-writer for Chemical Society Reviews. He is currently a Research Chemist in the Adhesive Technologies Business Sector of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, based in Düsseldorf, Germany. His research interests focus primarily on enabling chemistries and technologies for next generation adhesives and surface treatments. (Any views expressed here are his personal ones and not those of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA.)

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Designing a new antifungal glycoconjugate vaccine

13 Dec 2012

By Jeanne Therese Andres.

Potential conjugate vaccines against Candida albicans, a common pathogen which in its most virulent form may cause life-threatening bloodstream infections such as bacterial meningitis in infants and immunocompromised adults, are currently being developed.

As part of the upcoming Chem Soc Rev carbohydrate chemistry themed issue, this review article by members of the Bundle Research Group from the Alberta Glycomics Centre at the University of Alberta highlights the latest and most significant prospects for candidate vaccines against C. albicans. It also contextualises their work on conjugate vaccine design and evaluation within current knowledge on antibody-carbohydrate interactions and glycoconjugate vaccines development.

Their experimental findings show that conjugate vaccines containing disaccharide or trisaccharide attached to immunogenic proteins reduced fungal burden.

graphical abstract

Related PowerPoint slides on “β1,2-Mannans Conformationally Interesting Molecules” are also available as electronic supplementary information (ESI) – take a look at these for free.

Read this Chemical Society Reviews article today:

Designing a new antifungal glycoconjugate vaccine
Margaret A. Johnson and David R. Bundle
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2CS35382B

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Hua Zhang awarded Young Innovator Award

10 Dec 2012

By Jane Hordern, Deputy Editor.

Hua Zhang, Advisory Board member of RSC journals Chem. Soc Rev. and Nanoscale, has been awarded the Small Young Innovator Award for 2012. We congratulate Hua on this achievement!

Hua is Associate Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and won the award “For important contributions to novel low-dimensional nanomaterials.”

His research is highly interdisciplinary and currently focuses on synthesis of 2D nanomaterials and carbon materials (graphene and CNTs) and their applications in a wide range of fields from sensing to clean energy.

You can see some of Hua Zhang’s innovative research in these recent articles:

Graphene-based composites
Xiao Huang, Xiaoying Qi, Freddy Boey and Hua Zhang
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012,41, 666-686
DOI: 10.1039/C1CS15078B, Critical Review

Fabrication of nanoelectrode ensembles by electrodepositon of Au nanoparticles on single-layer graphene oxide sheets
Zhijuan Wang, Juan Zhang, Zongyou Yin, Shixin Wu, Daniel Mandler and Hua Zhang
Nanoscale, 2012,4, 2728-2733
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30142C, Paper

Hollow core–shell nanostructure supercapacitor electrodes: gap matters
Cao Guan, Xinhui Xia, Nan Meng, Zhiyuan Zeng, Xiehong Cao, Cesare Soci, Hua Zhang and Hong Jin Fan
Energy Environ. Sci., 2012,5, 9085-9090
DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22815G, Paper

Single-layer graphene oxide sheet: a novel substrate for dip-pen nanolithography
Hai Li, Xiehong Cao, Bing Li, Xiaozhu Zhou, Gang Lu, Cipto Liusman, Qiyuan He, Freddy Boey, Subbu S. Venkatraman and Hua Zhang
Chem. Commun., 2011,47, 10070-10072
DOI: 10.1039/C1CC12648B, Communication
From collection Molecule-based surface chemistry

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Chem Sov Rev Emerging Investigator Lectureship: Nomination Deadline 14th December

04 Dec 2012

By Jane Hordern, Deputy Editor.

Chem Soc Rev is pleased to invite nominations for the 2013 Emerging Investigator Lectureship. This annual lectureship is given to recognise an emerging scientist who has made a significant contribution to their research field.

Nomination Deadline: 14th December 2012
Nominate now

Previous winners include:

	2012 – Xiaogang Liu from the National University of Singapore and Institute of Materials Research Engineering, A*STAR
	2011 – Cristina Nevado from the University of Zurich in Switzerland
	2010 – Shu-Hong Yu from the University of Science and Technology of China, in Hefei
	2009 – Matt Gaunt from the University of Cambridge in the UK
	2008 – Kazuya Kikuchi from Osaka University in Japan

Qualifying details

To be eligible for the Chem Soc Rev Emerging Investigator Lectureship, the candidate should have completed their PhD on or after 15^th September 2004.

Award details

The recipient of the lectureship will be asked to present a lecture at an international meeting. The Chem Soc Rev Editorial Office will provide the sum of £1000 to the recipient for travel and accommodation costs. The recipient will be presented with a certificate and will also be asked to contribute a review to the journal.

Selection

The recipient of the lectureship will be selected and endorsed by the Chem Soc Rev Editorial Board.

Nominations

Those wishing to make a nomination should send details of the nominee, including a brief C.V. together with a letter supporting the nomination, to the Chem Soc Rev Editorial Office by 14^th December 2012. Please note that self nomination is not permissible.

Following the close of nominations, nominees will be contacted and asked to summarise their key achievements and identify up to their top 5 independent publications. They will also be asked to highlight the impact of their work and discuss how their research has evolved from their previous supervisor’s.

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C-H activation: an article collection

20 Nov 2012

By Ross McLaren, Development Editor.

A collection of high impact articles focusing on C-H activation, from the RSC’s Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry (OBC), Green Chemistry, ChemComm, RSC Advances, Chemical Science, Chem. Soc. Rev and Catalysis Science & Technology.

One of the simplest and most utilised chemical reactions is the burning of hydrocarbons and while combustion is an excellent way to exploit the energy content of this naturally occurring resource, there is a lot more we can do with the ‘inert’ C-H bond.

C-H activation allows us to convert cheaper hydrocarbon starting materials into more valuable and versatile products; leading to the development of a wide range of reagents and catalysts that activate C-H bonds. To keep you up to date with the latest developments in the field we have created this article collection, where all articles are free to download until 15^th December.

Click here for the full list of free articles

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Themed issue: Quasicrystals

12 Nov 2012

By Jane Hordern, Deputy Editor.

Chem. Soc. Rev. is delighted to present its Quasicrystals themed issue, in honour of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Professor Dan Shechtman.

Guest editor Professor Walter Steurer introduces this themed issue in his editorial Fascinating Quasicrystals.

This themed issue features a fantastic collection of reviews on the topic of quasicrystals, here is just a snapshot:

Tutorial Reviews:
Why are quasicrystals quasiperiodic?
Walter Steurer
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 6719-6729
DOI: 10.1039/C2CS35063G

Electrical and thermal transport properties of icosahedral and decagonal quasicrystals
Janez Dolinšek
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 6730-6744
DOI: 10.1039/C2CS35036J

Critical Review:
Mathematical diffraction of aperiodic structures
Michael Baake and Uwe Grimm
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 6821-6843
DOI: 10.1039/C2CS35120J

Browse the whole Quasicrystals themed issue online.

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Key Learning Points published in Tutorial Reviews

12 Nov 2012

By Jane Hordern, Deputy Editor.

Following last month’s announcement about the relaunch of Tutorial Reviews in Chem. Soc. Rev., we are now pleased to have published our first reviews which contain Key Learning Points.

All Tutorial Reviews will now include a ‘Key Learning Points’ box – where authors succinctly highlight what readers should expect to learn from their review.

We hope this allows Tutorial Reviews to be even more accessible to graduate students and beyond; providing an essential introduction to a field and serving as a springboard to further reading. For more information about Chem. Soc. Rev. review articles, including how to submit a proposal, see our Author Guidelines.

Take a look at our new Key Learning Points in the Tutorial Reviews below:

The calculations of excited-state properties with Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory
Carlo Adamo and Denis Jacquemin
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, DOI: 10.1039/C2CS35394F

Homogeneous Palladium Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation
Qing-An Chen, Zhi-Shi Ye, Ying Duan and Yong-Gui Zhou
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, DOI: 10.1039/C2CS35333D

We also encourage you to sign-up to our free contents e-alerts to receive the latest reviews from Chem. Soc. Rev.

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Chemical Society Reviews Blog

Themed Issue: Solar Fuels

Spotting Quantum Mechanics at Work in Biological Systems

1,8-Naphthalimide Derivatives: Chemistry, Physical Properties and Activity as Anticancer and Fluorescent Imaging Agents

Designing a new antifungal glycoconjugate vaccine

Hua Zhang awarded Young Innovator Award

Chem Sov Rev Emerging Investigator Lectureship: Nomination Deadline 14th December

C-H activation: an article collection

Themed issue: Quasicrystals

Key Learning Points published in Tutorial Reviews

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