Pumped up : Propene molecules form chiral complexes when adsorbed on a copper surface. Inelastically scattered tunneling electrons from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope induce rotation or diffusion of the adsorbate on the surface. Higher tunneling currents can lead to conversion of the adsorbate into the opposite enantiomer.
Manipulation makes light work : The morphology and rheological properties of a liquid‐crystalline system can be dynamically manipulated with UV light by attaching photoresponsive liquid‐crystalline moieties to a siloxane‐based polymer. Stimulation with UV light induces a conformational change in the molecule, which disrupts the liquid‐crystalline mesophase (see picture), and results in a dramatic change in its rheological properties.
Retained : An N‐heterocyclic carbene with eight cyclohexyl groups (see figure) provides increased electron density for a highly active olefin metathesis catalyst as well as sufficient steric bulk to allow the efficient separation of such a complex from the organic products in the solvent‐resistant nanofiltration.
For the first time : Thiofulminic acid (HCNS), the parent member of the nitrile sulfide family of reactive intermediates and potential interstellar species, was produced and characterized by IR spectroscopy for the first time. HCNS was generated in cryogenic matrices by 254 nm UV irradiation of 1,2,5‐thiadiazole (see figure).
Confined tubes : Periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) mesophases were synthesized within the confined tubular environment of anodic alumina membrane (AAM) channels, resulting in the formation of either the hexagonal circular or the cubic mesophase.
A remarkable twosome : Four‐coordinate square‐planar complexes based on [Zn(salen)] derivatives are conveniently captured inside a crystal matrix using a supramolecular protecting strategy (see figure). The four‐coordinate species is accompanied by a five‐coordinate complex that binds an axial ligand able to hydrogen bond to an N‐heterocycle positioned in the axial region of the coordinative unsaturated derivative. The size of the N‐heterocycle is a decisive stabilization parameter.
Triangular luminescent box : Self‐assembly of a new multidentate receptor with europium cations results in the formation of trinuclear discrete complexes. X‐ray crystallography shows that nine‐coordinate cations are linked by ligands to provide a triangular complex in the solid state and in solution. Despite the coordinated solvent molecules, this topologically unusual complex exhibits remarkable luminescent properties.
The appropriate choice of chiral catalyst and starting materials leads to the synthesis of 1,2‐oxazetidin‐3‐ones by cycloadditions of ketenes with nitroso compounds with very good regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. In addition to serving as potentially bioactive target molecules, the products can be transformed into other important classes of compounds, such as α‐hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives.
Once around the block : Incorporation of a rigid hydrogen‐bonding benzamide unit, placed at the interface between two polymer blocks, in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–(thio)urea–poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) block copolymers transforms the morphology of the block copolymers, from spherical micelles, as formed by PEG‐PLLA diblock copolymers, into nanotubes in solution.
