Double trouble : A hybrid organic–inorganic (organometallic) inhibitor was designed to target glutathione transferases. The metal center is used to direct protein binding, while the organic moiety acts as the active‐site inhibitor (see picture). The mechanism of inhibition was studied using a range of biophysical and biochemical methods.
It′s complicated! Triterpene saponins are a structurally and biologically diverse class of glycoconjugates of triterpenes that are widely distributed in terrestrial plants and some marine organisms. Current synthesis of these complex glycoconjugates has been discussed, whereupon the stereocontrolled glycosylation, global protection/deprotection, and the total synthesis of four unusual triterpene saponins are highlighted.
Three‐ring circus : An expedient route to tricyclic fused 2‐trimethylsilyl‐3‐aminopyridines exhibiting unprecedented skeletons is described. The key step is a very efficient cobalt‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of a polyunsaturated compound displaying an ynamide, an alkyne, and a nitrile functionality (see picture).
Let it shine! The impact of the anchoring group on photovoltaic performance by a series of phthalocyanine sensitisers (see figure) has been demonstrated.
Bringing order : A new class of periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) with a urea‐bridged organosilica precursor under acid‐catalyzed and inorganic‐salt‐assisted conditions was obtained. The large‐pore hybrid materials have ordered mesostructure with uniform pore size distributions, which can be seen from the TEM images.
Into the looking glass! Low temperature photoisomerization studies on some arenes have been studied in different organic glasses. The results are consistent with a possible softening of the glass and offer an explanation for the mechanism of photoisomerization in a confined medium.
Tuning electronic properties and morphologies : We report a unique design platform of n‐type organic semiconductors based on asymmetrically substituted bisphenazines that enable tuning of both electronic properties and morphologies of 1D nanostructures (see figure) by using small substituents with various sizes and electronic demands.
An‐T‐biotic : The first total synthesis of the T‐shaped bisanthraquinone natural product BE‐43472B was accomplished and its absolute configuration assigned. Key transformations in the pivotal cascade sequence include a Diels–Alder reaction, a hemiketal formation, and a nucleophilic aromatic ipso substitution.
Surfing gold and silica! A new cholesterol‐based tether was attached to both amine‐functionalised silica and gold surfaces. The resultant self‐assembled monolayers, which can be deep‐UV‐patterned, were used in attaching essentially equivalent patterned supported lipid bilayers both on silica for fluorescence studies (left figure) and on gold for impedance studies (right figure).
