Marnix van der Kolk

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 11 October 2024; doi:10.1038/s41557-024-01653-3

Ozonolysis reactions convert alkenes into carbon–oxygen compounds via C=C bond cleavage. Now the cleavage of alkenes to form carbon–nitrogen bonds—the aza version of ozonolysis, termed triazenolysis—has been developed. The reaction produces diamines from cyclic alkenes, while acyclic C=C bonds are broken to generate two separate amine units.

Science, Volume 386, Issue 6718, Page 144-146, October 2024.

Nature, Published online: 09 October 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03277-6

Weight loss and metabolic improvements do not explain the longevity benefits of severe dietary restrictions.

Nature, Published online: 09 October 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03217-4

Do you have a favourite tool or workaround that helps you save time, money or drudgery? Share it with Nature’s readers.

Nature, Published online: 30 September 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03151-5

At this Dutch festival, scientists learn about participants’ sex, drugs and rock-and-roll habits.

Nature Reviews Chemistry, Published online: 24 September 2024; doi:10.1038/s41570-024-00644-9

2024 marks twenty years of the educational website Not Voodoo: Demystifying Synthetic Organic Chemistry — a fount of knowledge for organic chemistry laboratory techniques, with tips and tricks for both beginning research students and advanced experimentalists.

We present a photocatalyst-free enantioselective Minisci-type alkylation of N-heteroarenes, utilizing chiral phosphoric acids under mild conditions. This novel approach demonstrates excellent enantioselectivities, broad substrate scope, and compatibility with various functional groups.

Abstract

In this study, we present an efficient radical approach for the enantioselective Minisci-type alkylation of N-heteroarenes, using chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) as a catalyst under mild conditions, without the need for metals, photocatalysts, and other additives. Prochiral α-aminoalkyl radicals generated from RAEs were successfully introduced to N-heteroarene derivatives, including pyridine, quinoline, and isoquinoline, resulting in a range of valuable chiral alkylated N-heteroarenes with secondary amines in high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee). The chiral phosphoric acid catalyst not only activates the substrate and induces asymmetry but also facilitates essential electron transfer processes.

While polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics can exhibit a broad range of functionality when mixed with additives during the formulation process, these non-covalent additives leach from the plastic over time, resulting in the loss of its tailored functionality. This work establishes a method for electrocatalytic functionalization of PVC to covalently graft plasticizing additives directly onto the polymer backbone. These functionalized polymers contain a variety of additives, differing polymeric structures, and modified bulk properties.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-02917-1

The engagement-fuelled logic of social media has bequeathed us a world in which what’s trending is a yardstick for what’s true.