An adaptable approach : The first highly convergent stereoselective synthesis of feglymycin (see structure) and its enantiomer is based on the coupling of repeating peptide fragments. The use of weakly basic conditions throughout the synthesis suppressed the epimerization of sensitive aryl glycine units. Feglymycin has strong anti‐HIV activity as well as potent (previously identified as weak) antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
Light on target : Silica‐coated upconverting nanophosphor (UCNP) nanocomposites have been synthesized with organic dye (fluorescein isothiocyanate, FITC) incorporated in the silica shell. The nanocomposites are well dispersed and have good photostability and biocompatibility. These nanocomposites readily conjugated with folic acid for targeted multimodal bioimaging (see schematic representation).
In a glass house : Silica‐encapsulated self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on tunable gold/silver nanoshells were used as labels for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). This concept combines the spectroscopic advantages arising from maximum surface coverage and uniform molecular orientation of the Raman reporter molecules within the complete monolayer together with the high chemical and mechanical stability of the glass shell.
Buckybowls : The adsorption of penta‐tert‐butylcorannulene, a molecule with fivefold symmetry, on Cu(111), a surface with threefold symmetry, is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy complemented by structure calculations. The symmetry mismatch is resolved by the formation of threefold‐symmetric subunits consisting of three molecules, which combine with single molecules to form a nearly perfect filling of the plane (see picture).
Active RNase glycoprotein from three pieces : The glycoprotein enzyme ribonuclease C, which contains a complex saccharide N‐glycan, was synthesized by sequential native chemical ligation. An optimized ligation and isolation protocol allowed the efficient assembly and refolding of the 124 amino acid enzyme.
A new route to chemical implantation of copper(II) N,N‐dialkylcarbamato complexes on silica and nanostructured silica–zirconia matrices and subsequent thermal treatment (see scheme) is an efficient method of functionalizing the oxide matrices with nanostructured CuO. The materials have been characterized thoroughly and the effect of selected experimental parameters on the grafting reaction was investigated.
Robust protocol! A diverse array of piperazine scaffolds was obtained by a robust solid‐phase‐synthesis protocol involving multistep elaboration of a resin‐bound aziridine (see scheme). Microwave‐assisted on‐resin protectinggroup introduction and manipulation as well as intramolecular Fukuyama–Mitsunobu cyclization conditions were key features.
C U soon : Clusters containing 60, 44, and 36 uranyl peroxide hydroxide polyhedra (see picture) adopt fullerene topologies of maximum symmetry. The largest of these, denoted U60, is topologically identical to C60 with no pentagonal adjacencies and the highest possible symmetry. U44 adopts the topology with maximum symmetry rather than that with the lowest number of pentagonal adjacencies.
