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Towards non-toxic antifouling agents: A novel method for total synthesis of scabrolide F

Researchers at Okayama University developed a novel method for the total synthesis of scabrolide F, a natural marine compound. The study revealed that synthetic scabrolide F and its related compounds exhibited strong antifouling activity without toxicity, making it a potential solution to prevent biofouling damage.

SourceOkayama University·JournalOrganic & Biomolecular Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 26, 2024

Choosing outcomes: new switchable process for synthesizing 3-aminoindolines and 2’-aminoarylacetic acids from same substrate

Researchers at Okayama University developed a switchable process to synthesize 3-aminoindolines and 2'-aminoaryl acetic acids from a common substrate using Grignard reagents and azide compounds. The new protocol utilizes tautomerism to control chemoselectivity and achieves efficient synthesis with good yields.

SourceOkayama University·JournalChemical Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 24, 2024

Exploration of polymer cononsolvency mechanism through soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy

This study investigates the cononsolvency mechanism of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in aqueous methanol solutions. PNIPAM forms rounded structures in pure water but chain structures in pure methanol, leading to hydrophobic hydration and aggregation in aqueous methanol solutions.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 16, 2024

More efficient molecular motor widens potential applications

Researchers have created a more efficient light-driven molecular motor, which can be used for various applications such as controlling molecular self-assembly and creating chiral dopants in liquid crystals. The new design also enables the motor to work more efficiently in medical applications due to its longer wavelength absorption.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 26, 2024

Researchers at IOCB Prague develop a new method for enzymatic synthesis of potential RNA therapeutics

Researchers at IOCB Prague have developed a novel method for preparing ribonucleic acid (RNA) containing modified bases using engineered DNA polymerases. This opens the door to applications in chemical biology and therapeutic applications, including mRNA drugs.

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

Researchers from IOCB Prague challenge the limits of molecular memory, opening the door to the development of molecular chips

Researchers from IOCB Prague have developed a molecule that can switch between three distinct states, enabling the storage of complex information. This achievement opens the door to the development of molecular chips with unprecedented capabilities.

Fast folding for synthetic peptides and microproteins

Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a new method that enables the efficient production of cysteine-rich peptides and microproteins in their naturally folded 3D structure. The approach uses organic solvents to mimic nature's oxidative folding process, resulting in speeds of over 100,000 times faster than aqueous...

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2024

Introducing Cresomycin, a synthetic antimicrobial molecule highly effective against multidrug-resistant bacteria

Researchers developed cresomycin, a conformally restricted antibiotic molecule that optimizes for ribosomal binding, inhibiting Gram-negative and positive bacteria, including multi-drug resistant strains. The findings portend favorably for the future discovery of antibacterial agents broadly effective against antimicrobial resistance.

The first domino falls for redox reactions

Researchers have successfully transmitted a domino effect in redox reactions for the first time. The new mechanism involves a two-part molecule that undergoes structural changes upon oxidation, triggering further oxidation in neighboring groups. This discovery has potential applications in nanoscale computing and energy systems.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2024

Turning plastic trash into chemistry treasure

A team at Hokkaido University has developed a method to reuse plastic waste while improving process safety and efficiency. The approach uses common plastic materials to initiate radical chain reactions, detoxifying hazardous chemicals and reducing toxicity.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 24, 2023

A fork in the rhod: Janelia researchers unveil comprehensive collection of rhodamine-based fluorescent dyes

The Janelia Fluor dyes have become a staple in biology labs worldwide, and the team has now expanded their spectrum with a new set of far-red shifted dyes that can penetrate deeper into tissue. The researchers developed a novel chemistry to synthesize these dyes, enabling them to create dozens of functional versions relatively quickly.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 8, 2023

Two synthetic molecules developed to help elucidate cellular functions

Researchers at iGCORE in Japan developed two synthetic versions of an ADP-ribose fragment to study cellular functions. The approach enables the production of structurally well-defined oligo- and poly(ADP-ribose) samples, accelerating ADP-ribose biology research.

SourceInstitute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Tokai National Higher Education and Research System·JournalEuropean Journal of Organic Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 28, 2023

A mysterious blue molecule will help make better use of light energy

Researchers at IOCB Prague have described the causes of azulene's blue color and its unusual properties, which can help capture and utilize light energy. The team used a simple concept to explain the molecule's behavior, opening up new possibilities for organic chemistry.

SourceInstitute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2023

Decrypting integrins by mixed-solvent molecular dynamics simulation

A team of researchers developed a novel computational approach to identify allosteric sites in integrins, revealing previously inaccessible druggable pockets. This breakthrough has the potential to overcome limitations in integrin-targeting medication and open new avenues for drug discovery.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalJournal of Chemical Information and Modeling·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 28, 2023

A new generic treatment for multiple types of cancer

Researchers have developed a new technique to generically treat several kinds of cancer, showing tumors grew almost three times less and survival rates reached 100% after just one injection. The method targets cancer cells with alpha radiation, sparing healthy tissue.

SourceRIKEN·JournalChemical Science·DateJun 27, 2023

Flat fullerene fragments attractive to electrons

Researchers at Kyoto University created flat fullerene fragments that can accept up to an equal number of electrons as the five-membered rings in their structure without decomposition. These molecules display enhanced absorbance of UV, visible, and near-infrared light, making them suitable for photochemistry applications.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 1, 2023

Birch reduction simplified to a one-minute mechanochemical process

Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a simplified Birch reduction method that avoids liquid ammonia and can be carried out in ambient air, making it faster and more eco-friendly. The mechanochemical approach uses a ball mill to break through the surface layer on lithium metal, enabling the Birch reduction to proceed.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 7, 2023

Toward tunable molecular switches from organic compounds

Researchers at Hokkaido University and Kyushu University have developed a technique to synthesize potential molecular switches from anthraquinodimethanes (AQDs), a group of overcrowded organic molecules. The synthesized derivatives can stably form twisted and folded isomers, as well as other isomeric forms, in different solvents.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalMaterials Chemistry Frontiers·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023

A sweet reaction: Microwaves might increase the sustainability of the chemicals industry

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a method to produce specific hexose and heptose sugars using microwave irradiation, improving the sustainability of industrial chemical production. The new process increases reaction efficiency and purity, paving the way for more environmentally friendly chemicals manufacturing.

SourceOsaka University·JournalRSC Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 5, 2023

Robots and A.I. team up to discover highly selective catalysts

Researchers developed a machine learning model using advanced 2D chemical descriptors to predict highly selective asymmetric catalysts without quantum chemical computations. The model demonstrated high accuracy in predicting catalyst structures and selectivity, outperforming existing methods.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2023

‘Smart’ coating can be precisely applied to make fabric into protective gear

Dartmouth College researchers have developed a durable copper-based coating that can precisely be integrated into fabric to create responsive materials for protective equipment, environmental sensors, and smart filters. The coating responds to toxic gases in the air by converting them into less toxic substances trapped in the fabric.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2023

Aging | DNA methylation GrimAge version 2

Researchers developed a new epigenetic biomarker, GrimAge version 2, which leverages two DNAm-based estimators of plasma proteins to predict mortality risk. The study found that GrimAge 2 outperforms existing clinical biomarkers in predicting mortality across multiple racial/ethnic groups and associations with age-related conditions.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeObservational study·DateDec 21, 2022