Shifts for crystals : Solid‐state NMR spectroscopy can be used for structure determination of microcrystalline paramagnetic solids at natural isotopic abundance. The protocol makes use of paramagnetic effects, measured on suitably recorded 1H NMR spectra, to define the conformation of a molecule in the lattice and the intermolecular packing in the solid phase. The method is illustrated with a family of lanthanide compounds (see picture).
In a new direction : In situ NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculation studies demonstrate that the hybrid of imidazolium ionic liquids with morpholine can be formed by means of hydrogen bonds during the crystallization of molecular sieves (see graphic; T=Al or P), which drastically alters the structure‐directing property.
Single‐site catalysts : Syndiospecific styrene polymerization promoted by single‐site ansa‐lanthanidocene catalysts proceeds selectively in a secondary (2,1) fashion, both at the initiation and propagation steps. The steric hindrance between the phenyl ring of the incoming styrene monomer and the ancillary ligands (Cp′, Flu′), induced by the change of either the bridge or the “active” R ligand in the catalyst precursor, is proposed to control the reactivity of the complexes (see scheme).
Telling the difference quickly: Femtosecond laser pulses are not only suitable to distinguish structural isomers. They also provide access to the distinction of enantiomers by combination of circular dichroism and mass spectrometry (see picture).
Hex nut : An emerging synthetic approach based on metal–organic coordination‐polymer templates has been used to fabricate micro‐ and nanoscale crystals. By using a diverse range of molecular building blocks coupled with conventional synthetic techniques, it is possible to synthesize ZnO crystals with tailored sizes, shapes (such as hexagonal rings; see figure), and surface properties.
Active but unselective : Nucleoside triphosphates possessing glucose moieties (such as those depicted) instead of the natural furanose rings are recognised by the active sites of polymerases. Polymerases therefore seem to be very unspecific in their recognition patterns.
Bright polymers : Fluorescent coordination polymers made up of versatile functionalized bodipy (boron‐dipyrrin) chromophore building blocks, such as that depicted, are described. Polymerization is signaled by changes in fluorescence emission intensity and shifts in peak emission wavelengths.
The fiveway junction : The synthesis of ligands with five symmetrically diverging binding sites is described and their assembly into large spherical structures (such as that shown here) investigated.
