This template will self‐destruct : A unique particle‐growth mechanism involves growth of new coordination polymers on the surface of initially formed hexagonal blocks and concomitant dissolution of the blocks to form hexagonal tubes (see scheme and scanning electron, optical, and fluorescence microscopy images). Calcination of the tubes yields ZnO particles of the same shape.
No solo dancers: The temperature dependence of dielectric spectra suggests that the lower‐frequency relaxation dominating the dynamics of imidazolium‐based room temperature ionic liquids cannot be solely due to independent rotational diffusion of the cations (see picture), but must also include cooperative motions of the surrounding particles.
The binding, diffusion, and aggregation mechanism of an engineered binding peptide on Au(111), showing non‐equilibrium surface structures that lead to the formation of a confluent monolayer, is described by M. Sarikaya et al. in their Communication on page 5174 ff. The observed dynamic structural evolution involving the surface diffusion of peptides and multiple stages of molecular thin film topology are explained. Ersin Emre Oren is thanked for the design of the graphic.
Tackling blocks : The isoprene‐assisted radical coupling (I‐ARC) of polymers prepared by cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization (see picture) is the first efficient radical coupling method that is not restricted to short chains. When applied to AB diblock copolymers, I‐ARC constitutes a straightforward approach to the preparation of novel symmetrical ABA triblock copolymers.
A grand opening : N‐Boc‐N‐alkylsulfamides are effective substrates for the title transformation. Oxidative cyclization is highly chemoselective as well as being both stereospecific and diastereoselective. With the advent of new protocols that facilitate ring opening of the six‐membered‐ring heterocyclic products, access to differentially protected 1,3‐diamines has been made possible (see scheme).
Water pump : Polyion complex (PIC) vesicles are spontaneously formed from PIC microdroplets, which are formed by mixing cationic and anionic polymers (see picture). The formation process can be reversibly controlled by local heating with a focused infrared laser that triggers microphase separation and subsequent water influx. The size of the resulting giant unilamellar vesicles is determined by the initial size of the PIC droplets.
Time for SOme MOre : For the first time SOMO (singly occupied molecular orbital) activation has been exploited to allow a new approach to the α‐chlorination of aldehydes. This transformation can be readily implemented as part of a linchpin catalysis approach to the enantioselective production of terminal epoxides.
Double or nothing : The title reaction converts a range of aromatic aldehydes and allenylmethyl/allyl silanes into 1,6‐dioxecane derivatives in good to excellent yields (see scheme; Ar=aryl, Tf=triflate, THF=tetrahydrofuran, TMS=trimethylsilyl). In addition, the bisdiene product has been transformed into the corresponding tricyclic compound through a Diels–Alder reaction.
Fixing a hole : Hydrothermal chemistry has been exploited in the preparation of a 3D framework material exhibiting 48 % accessible void volume and 1.5 % hydrogen uptake by weight at 120 kPa (see picture). The title compound also exhibits single‐chain magnetic behavior and reversible changes in magnetic properties upon solvation and desolvation.
