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Azide-to-diazo conversion offers safer route to versatile diazo compounds

Researchers have developed a novel method to generate diazo compounds without toxic precursors, enabling efficient synthesis of valuable intermediates for chemical and pharmaceutical applications. The phosphine-mediated Michael addition reaction produces β-heteroatom-substituted diazo esters under mild conditions.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2026

Hidden catalysis: Abrasion transforms common chemistry equipment into reagents

A study from OIST shows that abrasion from common additives can lead to efficient reactions under mechanochemical conditions. Abrasive materials like tungsten carbide or diamond powder activate catalysts and drive coupling reactions. This finding changes the way researchers think about mechanochemical catalysts.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2025

Crystal-free mechanoluminescence illuminates new possibilities for next-generation materials

Scientists at OIST have created crystal-free films of photoluminescent compounds that exhibit mechanoluminescence when stimulated through mechanical forces. This breakthrough removes the need for complex crystal design and engineering in creating mechanoluminescent materials.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalChemical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 28, 2025

Pioneering green chemistry: Light and air combine to build key molecules for future medicines

Scientists at The University of Osaka have developed an innovative method for producing NOBIN, a valuable molecule used in pharmaceuticals, by combining a vanadium catalyst and LED light. This clean process yields only water as a byproduct, showcasing exceptional environmental compatibility and waste reduction.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalACS Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2025

"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions

Researchers engineered a nanoreactor cage with visible-light absorption to drive highly efficient photochemical reactions. The cage achieved perfect stereo- and site-selectivity in cross-[2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, enabling catalytic transformations of chemically inert substrates.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

A small reaction space has a big impact on polymer chemistry

Researchers at The University of Tokyo have developed a 'molecular flask' that modulates chemical reactions, allowing for the creation of specialized polymers in extremely small spaces. This breakthrough technology enables the production of complex materials with various applications, including optoelectronics and medicine.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 24, 2025

How computational guidelines and data-driven is reshaping inorganic material synthesis?

Machine learning (ML) techniques can identify materials with high synthesis feasibility and suggest suitable experimental conditions. Computational models derived from thermodynamics and kinetics enhance predictive performance and interpretability of ML models, optimizing experimental design and increasing synthesis efficiency.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 23, 2025

New sensor could help prevent lithium-ion battery fires and explosions

Researchers have developed a new sensor to detect hazardous gas leaks in lithium-ion batteries, which could prevent catastrophic failures and enhance the reliability of battery-powered technologies. The sensor detects trace amounts of ethylene carbonate vapour, targeting potential battery failures before they escalate into disasters.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2025

First successful synthesis of naphthocyclinones since their discovery fifty years ago

Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo develop an innovative strategy to produce β- and γ-naphthocyclinones, challenging compounds that have potential for medical and biological applications. They successfully synthesize the molecules using a retrosynthetic analysis approach, achieving yields of over 70%.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 18, 2024

New method for producing innovative 3D molecules

Researchers at the University of Münster have developed a new method for synthesizing heteroatom-substituted 3D molecules, which are more stable than related flat rings. The innovative structures show promise as substitutes in drug molecules, offering new possibilities for drug development.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalNature Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2024

PolyU study reveals the mechanism of bio-inspired control of liquid flow, enlightening breakthroughs in fluid dynamics and nature-inspired materials technologies

Scientists studied Crassula muscosa and found its unique leaves pack tiny fins that manipulate the meniscus to direct liquid transport. An artificial mimic, CMIAs, mimics this effect, enabling real-time directional control of fluid flow in various technologies.

SourceThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2024

Moffitt researchers develop synthesis method to enhance access to cancer-fighting withanolides

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have developed a groundbreaking synthesis method for producing withanolides, a class of compounds that inhibit cancer cell growth and induce cell death. The scalable production of these compounds will advance cancer research and treatment development, offering new hope for patients.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2024

Transition-metal-free zeolite catalyst for direct conversion of methane to methanol

Researchers have discovered a novel transition-metal-free aluminosilicate ferrierite zeolite catalyst that enables direct conversion of methane to methanol. The new process achieves 305 π mol gˑ minǘ methanol production rate with high selectivity, presenting an environmentally friendly solution for converting greenhouse gases into valu...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 3, 2024

Co-production of steel and chemicals could help mitigate hard-to-abate carbon emissions

A Princeton-led study suggests that co-producing steel and chemicals could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from these industries. By redirecting steelmaking off-gas to chemical production, China can lower its hard-to-abate emissions and meet climate goals.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalNature Chemical Engineering·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 26, 2024

A new understanding of ion exchange

A team from the Liu Lab has shown that there is a general pathway for lithium and sodium ion exchange in layered oxide cathode materials. This discovery enables researchers to predict intermediate states and create more efficient processes for synthesizing materials.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2024

How scientists are accelerating chemistry discoveries with automation

A new statistical-modeling workflow can quickly identify molecular structures of products formed by chemical reactions, accelerating drug discovery and synthetic chemistry. The workflow also enables the analysis of unpurified reaction mixtures, reducing time spent on purification and characterization.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Chemical Information and Modeling·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 8, 2024

New route to recyclable polymers from plants

Researchers have created a method to make fully recyclable polymers from plant cellulose, which can replace some plastics and reduce plastic pollution. The new polymers have various structures that offer different applications, including high-performance materials for optical, electronic, and biomedical uses.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalACS Macro Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2024

Revolutionary breakthrough in nitrile activation unveils promising pathway for anticancer precursor synthesis

Researchers have developed a novel method to produce a selective anticancer precursor substance. The synthesis involves the reaction of metal-active oxygen species with nitrile, utilizing cost-effective metals at lower temperatures. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities in developing innovative drugs against cancer.

Autonomous lab discovers best-in-class quantum dot in hours; it would have taken humans years

Researchers at NC State University developed an autonomous system called SmartDope to synthesize 'best-in-class' materials for specific applications in hours or days. It uses a self-driving lab to manipulate variables, characterize optical properties, and update its understanding of the synthesis chemistry through machine learning.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries could be produced at low temperatures

A team of researchers at Hokkaido University has developed a new method to synthesize layered lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) at low temperatures, reducing synthesis time from hours to minutes. The hydroflux process produces crystalline LiCoO2 with properties only marginally inferior to commercially available materials.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalInorganic Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2023

Semiconductor photocatalyst helps to realize borylation reaction

Researchers developed a heterogeneous photocatalytic system using cadmium sulfide nanosheets to realize borylation reactions involving N-heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-BH3). The process enables the synthesis of high-value transformations under room temperature and light conditions.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 30, 2023

Multicyclic molecular wheels with polymer potential

Scientists have successfully created macro-rotaxanes with multicyclic wheels, which hold long molecular chains together to modify the properties of soft polymers. These new structures offer improved damping efficiency and potential applications in next-generation polymers and molecular computing.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2023

Insilico Medicine scientists propose stricter standards for evaluating generative AI-produced molecules

The study evaluates recent research on artificial intelligence-generated molecular structures from the perspective of medicinal chemists, recommending guidelines for assessing novelty and validity. Insilico Medicine's recommendations aim to improve the process of generating and evaluating novel AI-generated drugs.

SourceInSilico Medicine·JournalACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 18, 2023

Virtual exploration of chemical reactions

Researchers from Hokkaido University developed a centralized, interactive platform to explore and analyze chemical reaction pathways. The Searching Chemical Action and Network (SCAN) platform utilizes AFIR calculations to provide an interactive reaction pathway map that can be searched and viewed.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalDigital Discovery·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 3, 2023

New enzyme could aid anticancer drug development

A new enzyme, CtdY, has been identified that can break an amide bond, a fundamental type of bond found in proteins. This discovery holds significant promise for the pharmaceutical industry, as it could enable the creation of new anticancer drugs and improve treatment outcomes.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2023

Using AI to create better, more potent medicines

Researchers at Ohio State University developed an AI framework called G2 Retro to automatically generate chemical reactions for molecules. The framework was shown to cover a vast range of possible reactions and accurately predict the best synthesis routes, offering more efficient drug design options.

SourceOhio State University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 30, 2023