Chemical Science Blog

Chemical Science is delighted to announce the addition of another Associate Editor: Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik of Harvard University, who is now handling submissions in the area of theoretical chemistry.

Biography
Professor Aspuru-Guzik joined Harvard University in 2006 and has been a full professor there since 2013 (the same year in which he received the ACS Early Career Award in Theoretical Chemistry). Prior to joining Harvard, Alán spent a couple of years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also completed his PhD in Physical Chemistry. He holds a BSc in Chemistry from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Research
Alán leads the Aspuru-Guzik Research Group, a theoretical physical chemistry group in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University. The group’s research focuses on:

• The Clean Energy Project: a theory-driven search for the next generation of organic solar cell materials
• Excitonics: aiming to understand, control, and harness electronic excitations in nanoscale environments
• Quantum Simulation: developing digital and analogue quantum simulators for quantum chemistry, in order to enhance understanding of complicated electronic structures and molecules
• Open Quantum Systems and Quantum Algorithms: developing efficient quantum algorithms for quantum simulation of chemical systems, reaction dynamics, and state preparation, and developing methods by which these algorithms can be successfully carried out on quantum computers
• Electronic Structure Theory: developing methods to apply quantum chemical calculations to the description of new types of quantum processes

Alán is very interested in the design of novel materials for renewable energy in general. He recently had a breakthrough in screening for practical organic molecules for flow batteries. The theoretical aspects related to that work were published in Chemical Science as a cover article.

Chemical Science: Alan’s choice
We asked Alan to send us his pick of Chemical Science articles in the area of theoretical chemistry. His choices are listed below and you can read them by clicking on the links – all are free to access* until 24th May.

van der Waals dispersion interactions in molecular materials: beyond pairwise additivity Anthony M. Reilly and Alexandre Tkatchenko  Chem. Sci., 2015, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C5SC00410A, Perspective Open Access
Novel metal–organic framework linkers for light harvesting applications Michael E. Foster, Jason D. Azoulay, Bryan M. Wong and Mark D. Allendorf  Chem. Sci., 2014, 5, 2081-2090 DOI: 10.1039/C4SC00333K, Edge Article
Polymethine dyes for all-optical switching applications: a quantum-chemical characterization of counter-ion and aggregation effects on the third-order nonlinear optical response Sukrit Mukhopadhyay, Chad Risko, Seth R. Marder and Jean-Luc Brédas  Chem. Sci., 2012,3, 3103-3112 DOI: 10.1039/C2SC20861J, Edge Article
Thermodynamic analysis of Xe/Kr selectivity in over 137 000 hypothetical metal–organic frameworks Benjamin J. Sikora, Christopher E. Wilmer, Michael L. Greenfield and Randall Q. Snurr  Chem. Sci., 2012, 3, 2217-2223 DOI: 10.1039/C2SC01097F, Edge Article From themed collection Physical Chemistry
Estimating chemical reactivity and cross-influence from collective chemical knowledge Siowling Soh, Yanhu Wei, Bartlomiej Kowalczyk, Chris M. Gothard, Bilge Baytekin, Nosheen Gothard and Bartosz A. Grzybowski  Chem. Sci., 2012, 3, 1497-1502 DOI: 10.1039/C2SC00011C, Edge Article

Alán is now accepting submissions to Chemical Science in the area of theoretical chemistry.  He is keen to emphasize that he is interested not only in exceptional applications of theoretical methods, but also in the top methods-development manuscripts. He is also very interested in articles that are at the interface of theoretical chemistry and other fields.

Submit your high-impact research to Alán’s Editorial Office.

*Access is free with a registered RSC account.

Chemical Science is delighted to announce that Professor James K. McCusker of Michigan State University has joined the journal as an Associate Editor. Jim is now handling submissions in the area of Physical Inorganic chemistry.

Biography
Jim McCusker was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1965. After graduating from Bucknell University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he joined the University of North Carolina as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, where he worked with Professor Thomas J. Meyer from 1992-94. Following this he took up a position as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2001 Jim moved his research group to Michigan State University, where he is currently Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Center of Research Excellence in Complex Materials (CORE-CM).

Research
The McCusker Group’s research revolves around the ultrafast excited-state dynamics of transition metal complexes – in particular as this relates to the development of solar energy conversion strategies – as well as the interplay between zero-field spin polarization and the physical and photophysical properties of molecular systems.

Jim on Chemical Science
We asked Jim to talk us through some of his favourite Chemical Science articles. He picked the following as his highlights:

Recent advances on ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy in the chemical sciences
L. X. Chen, X. Zhang and M. L. Shelby  
Chem. Sci., 2014, 5, 4136-4152, DOI: 10.1039/C4SC01333F, Minireview

Jim says, “This is a mini-review by Chen and co-workers. It’s a great example of one of the formats that Chem Sci has created that allows an expert in a certain area to present his/her perspective. In this case, Lin Chen, one of the world’s experts in the application of ultrafast x-ray science to chemical problems, does a great job in explaining the history of the methodology and what the information derived from these experiments can provide to chemists. In essence, Chen takes a fairly sophisticated physical chemistry/chemical physics technique and explains its relevance to the broader chemical community.”

Energy transfer mediated by asymmetric hydrogen-bonded interfaces
Elizabeth R. Young, Joel Rosenthal and Daniel G. Nocera  
Chem. Sci., 2012, 3, 455-459 , DOI: 10.1039/C1SC00596K, Edge Article

“A paper by our new Editor-in-Chief. This is a great example of how judicious use of molecular design can be used to illustrate and expand our understanding of fundamental chemical principals. In this case, the topic is proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), a field that Nocera (along with my colleague at MSU, Robert Cukier) effectively defined and codified back in the 90s. This paper shows that the motion of protons in donor-acceptor systems can not only play a role in electron transfer (hence the term PCET), but can also be important in energy transfer. This effectively expands the scope of the PCET picture into a completely new realm of reactivity.”

Slow magnetization dynamics in a series of two-coordinate iron(II) complexes
Joseph M. Zadrozny, Mihail Atanasov, Aimee M. Bryan, Chun-Yi Lin, Brian D. Rekken, Philip P. Power, Frank Neese and Jeffrey R. Long  
Chem. Sci., 2013, 4, 125-138, DOI: 10.1039/C2SC20801F, Edge Article

“A paper by former Associate Editor Jeffrey Long, this represents a terrific confluence of synthesis, physical methods, and theory to demonstrate the applicability of an important physical concept in setting that would previously have been deemed unlikely at best. The present case deals with the rapidly developing area of single-molecule magnetism. Once thought to be relegated to large metal clusters, this paper shows how, by paying attention to the true underlying basis for the phenomenon, one can design molecules that exhibit the same effect in the simplest of coordination environments, namely a single-ion, two-coordinate complex.”

Vibrational coherence in the excited state dynamics of Cr(acac)₃: probing the reaction coordinate for ultrafast intersystem crossing
Joel N. Schrauben, Kevin L. Dillman, Warren F. Beck and James K. McCusker  
Chem. Sci., 2010, 1, 405-410, DOI: 10.1039/C0SC00262C, Edge Article

On choosing this Edge Article from an early issue of Chemical Science, Jim comments, “Okay, this is a bit self-serving in that it comes out of my group, but I’m actually quite proud of this paper. In chemistry we often talk about the “reaction coordinate” for a chemical process, be it a thermal reaction or a photo physical transformation, but what does that really mean? In this study, we were actually able to identify what this reaction coordinate is in the context of ultrafast excited-state dynamics. This paper was the first to document vibrational coherence associated with ligand-field electronic states. The underlying nature of the molecular motion responsible for this coherence was identified, and that information was used to synthetically modify the compound. The result was a > 10x modulation of the kinetics associated with the photo physics of this system, demonstrating for the first time that one could in fact use synthetic chemistry to effect significant changes in the photo-induced properties of molecules, even those occurring on sub-picosecond time scales.”

These articles are all free to access until 14^th May.

Jim is now accepting submissions to Chemical Science in the area of physical inorganic chemistry. Submit your high-impact research to his Editorial Office.

Chemical Science is pleased to welcome Christopher Hunter as Associate Editor for Physical Organic chemistry.  

Biography
Christopher Hunter is Herchel Smith Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Originally from New Zealand, he moved to Northern Ireland at the age of four and completed his early education there.  After receiving his undergraduate degree and PhD from Churchill College, Cambridge, he returned to his native New Zealand for a couple of years to lecture at the University of Otago. In 1991 he moved back to the UK, joining the University of Sheffield first as Lecturer and then as Professor, before taking up his current post at the University of Cambridge in September 2014.  

Research
The Hunter Group’s aim is to establish a reliable set of rules that can be used for the design of non-covalent systems. Their research focuses on four main areas of development:
1. Fundamental investigations of the nature of intermolecular interactions
2. Molecular design of functional assemblies
3. Development of new methods for studying solvation and co-operativity
4. Computer modelling of intermolecular interactions  

Awards
Chris’s recent awards include the RSC Physical Organic Chemistry Award (2011) and the RSC Tilden Prize (2009). In 2008 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.  

Publications
You can read some of the most recent work from the Hunter group in Chemical Science – click on the links below to get to the articles. All are either Open Access or free to access until 24th March: 

Open Access

Open Access

Open Access

Open Access

Open Access

A surface site interaction model for the properties of liquids at equilibrium
Christopher A. Hunter  
Chem. Sci., 2013, 4, 1687-1700
DOI: 10.1039/C3SC22124E, Edge Article
From themed collection Physical Chemistry  

van der Waals interactions in non-polar liquids
Christopher A. Hunter  
Chem. Sci., 2013, 4, 834-848
DOI: 10.1039/C2SC21666C, Edge Article
From themed collection Physical Chemistry  

Chris is now accepting submissions to Chemical Science in the area of physical organic chemistry.  Submit your high-impact research to his Editorial Office.  

Chemical Science is delighted to welcome Vy Dong of UC Irvine as Associate Editor in the area of Organic Chemistry.

Biography
Vy Dong grew up in Big Spring, Texas and Anaheim, California. After graduating from the University of California, Irvine, she joined David MacMillan‘s group at UC Berkeley, moving with his group to Caltech to complete her doctoral studies. She began her independent academic career at the University of Toronto in 2006, where she was promoted with tenure and named the Adrian Brook Professor. After six years in Canada, Vy returned to the United States to assume a professorship at her alma mater, UC Irvine.

In 2013 we interviewed Vy for Chemistry World – read the full interview to find out why Vy chose to pursue a career in chemistry, how she comes up with ideas for new projects, and what she loves about her job.

Research
Professor Dong’s research group at UC Irvine is interested in new reaction methods, enantioselective catalysis, and natural product synthesis. Specifically, the group looks at finding ways to directly convert carbon-hydrogen bonds into other functional groups, use carbon dioxide as a raw material, and make biologically active heterocycles.

Publications
We’ve made some of the Dong Research Group’s Chemical Science articles free to access until 18th March – click on the titles below to get to the articles*:

Open Access

β-hydroxy ketones prepared by regioselective hydroacylation
Stephen K. Murphy, Matthew M. Coulter and Vy M. Dong
Chem. Sci., 2012,3, 355-358, DOI: 10.1039/C1SC00634G, Edge Article

Ru-catalyzed activation of sp3 C–O bonds: O– to N-alkyl migratory rearrangement in pyridines and related heterocycles
Charles S. Yeung, Tom H. H. Hsieh and Vy M. Dong
Chem. Sci., 2011,2, 544-551, DOI: 10.1039/C0SC00498G, Edge Article

Nitrogen-directed ketone hydroacylation: Enantioselective synthesis of benzoxazecinones
Hasan A. Khan, Kevin G. M. Kou and Vy M. Dong
Chem. Sci., 2011,2, 407-410, DOI: 10.1039/C0SC00469C, Edge Article

Vy is now accepting submissions to Chemical Science in the area of organic chemistry. Submit your high-impact research to her Editorial Office.

*Access is free through a registered RSC account

Scottish-born David MacMillan is currently the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University.  His group’s research focuses on new concepts in synthetic organic chemistry and catalysis.

As Editor-in-Chief of Chemical Science since its launch in 2010, he has been instrumental in the journal’s rapid success for which it was recognised by the ALPSP as the Best New Journal 2011.

Describe Chemical Science in three words.

Non-traditional – Egalitarian – Quality

(and a bonus 4^th Glaswegian word – Gallus)

Which is your favourite Chemical Science paper and why?

I really love the six-step synthesis of strychnine by Chris Vanderwal’s lab.  Almost all of the steps in the synthesis have been known for more than 50 years, yet it took the ingenuity of Vanderwal to come up with an extraordinary efficient synthesis of this famous benchmark molecule that so many people have worked on.  In many ways, it sets the tempo and pace for what the school of total synthesis should be striving towards.

If you were in charge of a million-dollar research fund but couldn’t use it for your own projects, which hot area in organic chemistry would you invest in?

I would invest in trying to define new questions for the field of organic chemistry, and thereafter (and only thereafter) in ways to execute solutions to these new problems.  As an example, what transformation could be the next olefin metathesis or Buchwald-Hartwig coupling?  This would exclusively focus on trying to identify new problems or questions, and not how to solve established questions within the field.  I see so many applications for assistant professor positions where people want to work on the problem, or in the field, of the day – it’s better to work on your own questions rather than someone else’s.

When you aren’t teaching, doing research, or hard at work as our EIC, where are you most likely to be found?

In good restaurants trying to expand my knowledge of grape derived beverages.

What’s the most stupid mistake– and thus the most valuable learning experience– you’ve ever made in your career?

It’s a mistake I continue to make to this day, which is to describe work in public that has yet to be published (not a smart thing to do).  That being said, one of the thrills of giving any research talk is to surprise the audience with new results – the instant feedback can be really valuable.  Moreover, by getting out on the road and presenting your new research, it often helps formulate the message of the accompanying manuscript.  But again, it’s still a mistake to do it.

Please tell us something that Chem Sci readers might not know about you yet.

I like to fly airplanes.

Dream with us for a bit – the year is 2025: give us your idea of a hot, exciting Chemical Science Edge article title.

“Development of Basis Set 6311+GHI**, a computational approach to accurate and predictive modelling of any known or unknown transformation in chemical synthesis”

Your personal message to Chemical Science authors and readers?

The goal of Chemical Science is to do something different.  We hope to publish the most innovative chemistry research of our time and in doing so, create a new journal with a completely fresh outlook.  We are egalitarian and we feel strongly that all authors (young and old, famous or just getting started), should be treated equally and with respect.  Our journal will be a home for innovative and unique research that will appeal to aficionados of all subfields of chemistry.  We believe we have assembled one of the most high quality editorial boards in all of chemistry and we hope to earn the trust of readers and authors worldwide through thoughtful and deliberate handling of manuscripts.  We believe this substantial, egalitarian approach with an emphasis on innovation will drive the success of Chemical Science.  As such, I encourage you to try us out and submit an article to Chemical Science in the near future.

David MacMillan and his dynamic international team of Associate Editors make direct decisions on the content of Chemical Science and actively drive its scientific development – submit your best and most innovative work to any of their Editorial Offices.

Read Professor MacMillan’s Chem Sci articles:

Synergistic catalysis: A powerful synthetic strategy for new reaction development
Anna E. Allen and David W. C. MacMillan
Chem. Sci., 2012, 3, 633-658
DOI: 10.1039/C2SC00907B

A general approach to the enantioselective α-oxidation of aldehydes via synergistic catalysis
Scott P. Simonovich, Jeffrey F. Van Humbeck and David W. C. MacMillan
Chem. Sci., 2012, 3, 58-61
DOI: 10.1039/C1SC00556A

The intramolecular asymmetric allylation of aldehydes via organo-SOMO catalysis: A novel approach to ring construction
Phong V. Pham, Kate Ashton and David W. C. MacMillan
Chem. Sci., 2011, 2, 1470-1473
DOI: 10.1039/C1SC00176K

Total synthesis of diazonamide A
Robert R. Knowles, Joseph Carpenter, Simon B. Blakey, Akio Kayano, Ian K. Mangion, Christopher J. Sinz and David W. C. MacMillan
Chem. Sci., 2011, 2, 308-311
DOI: 10.1039/C0SC00577K

The organocatalytic three-step total synthesis of (+)-frondosin B
Maud Reiter, Staffan Torssell, Sandra Lee and David W. C. MacMillan
Chem. Sci., 2010, 1, 37-42
DOI: 10.1039/C0SC00204F