Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.07.006
Huimin Liu , Lichen Bai , Arno Bergmann , Beatriz Roldan Cuenya , Jingshan Luo
The nitrogen cycle is one of the most important biochemical cycles. However, the development of human society has led to a substantial release of nitrogen oxide species, both as ions (NOx−) and gases (NOx), into the environment, causing a considerable burden on the natural denitrification processes. Electrocatalytic reduction of NOx− and NOx emerges as a promising approach to transform these waste products into valuable ammonia, thereby contributing to the restoration of the nitrogen cycle. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in electrocatalytic NOx− and NOx reduction to ammonia, including detailed reaction mechanisms, catalyst development strategies based on both theoretical and experimental results, and the design and selection of electrolytic cells. Furthermore, it highlights key challenges associated with scaling up the reaction from laboratory-scale to practical industrial-scale application and explores potential opportunities to upgrade this reaction.
{"title":"Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide species to ammonia","authors":"Huimin Liu , Lichen Bai , Arno Bergmann , Beatriz Roldan Cuenya , Jingshan Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.07.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The nitrogen cycle is one of the most important biochemical cycles. However, the development of human society has led to a substantial release of nitrogen oxide species, both as ions (NO<sub>x</sub><sup>−</sup>) and gases (NO<sub>x</sub>), into the environment, causing a considerable burden on the natural denitrification processes. Electrocatalytic reduction of NO<sub>x</sub><sup>−</sup> and NO<sub>x</sub> emerges as a promising approach to transform these waste products into valuable ammonia, thereby contributing to the restoration of the nitrogen cycle. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in electrocatalytic NO<sub>x</sub><sup>−</sup> and NO<sub>x</sub> reduction to ammonia, including detailed reaction mechanisms, catalyst development strategies based on both theoretical and experimental results, and the design and selection of electrolytic cells. Furthermore, it highlights key challenges associated with scaling up the reaction from laboratory-scale to practical industrial-scale application and explores potential opportunities to upgrade this reaction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 2963-2986"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141918668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.07.013
Leonard Präve , Wolfgang Kuttenlochner , Werner W.A. Tabak , Chiara Langer , Markus Kaiser , Michael Groll , Helge B. Bode
The natural product (NP) class of syrbactins are potent proteasome inhibitors produced by hybrids of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and polyketide synthases (PKSs). Here, we describe the stepwise reassembly of an entire NRPS/PKS hybrid to produce a new syrbactin derivative by utilizing the recently described “eXchange Unit between Thiolation domains” (XUTs) approach. Remarkably, XUT-based engineering allowed the direct assembly of PKS and NRPS modules to introduce an α,β-unsaturated Michael system in a macrolactam moiety, which represents the inhibitory warhead of syrbactins. The novel derivative was produced in E. coli, isolated, and examined for its ability to inhibit yeast (yCP), human constitutive (cCP), and immunoproteasome (iCP). The engineered NP maintained the inhibitory activities of the syrbactin class but, due to rational modifications, inhibited iCP most strongly. Moreover, analysis of the crystal structure of yCP in complex with the derivative revealed further design strategies for even more specific iCP inhibition.
{"title":"Bioengineering of syrbactin megasynthetases for immunoproteasome inhibitor production","authors":"Leonard Präve , Wolfgang Kuttenlochner , Werner W.A. Tabak , Chiara Langer , Markus Kaiser , Michael Groll , Helge B. Bode","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.07.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.07.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The natural product (NP) class of syrbactins are potent proteasome inhibitors produced by hybrids of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and polyketide synthases (PKSs). Here, we describe the stepwise reassembly of an entire NRPS/PKS hybrid to produce a new syrbactin derivative by utilizing the recently described “eXchange Unit between Thiolation domains” (XUTs) approach. Remarkably, XUT-based engineering allowed the direct assembly of PKS and NRPS modules to introduce an α,β-unsaturated Michael system in a macrolactam moiety, which represents the inhibitory warhead of syrbactins. The novel derivative was produced in <em>E. coli</em>, isolated, and examined for its ability to inhibit yeast (yCP), human constitutive (cCP), and immunoproteasome (iCP). The engineered NP maintained the inhibitory activities of the syrbactin class but, due to rational modifications, inhibited iCP most strongly. Moreover, analysis of the crystal structure of yCP in complex with the derivative revealed further design strategies for even more specific iCP inhibition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 3212-3223"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141998757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.06.016
Soft actuators capable of performing complex mechanical motions are highly sought after for the development of next-generation smart materials. Nevertheless, none of the soft actuators reported to date have achieved multiple actuation modes using a single material. To overcome this limitation, we present a responsive composite film that displays distinct actuation modes when exposed to organic vapors. This material is readily prepared and scaled up by incorporating novel urea-cage compounds into a polymer matrix. Through a comprehensive investigation into the actuation mechanism, we demonstrate that the exceptional actuation behavior arises from the polymorphic transformations of the crystalline urea cages, which are triggered by selective host-guest interactions between the cages and solvent guests. It is worth emphasizing that, for the first time, the tool of host-guest chemistry has been harnessed to achieve complex mechanical motion in a soft actuator.
{"title":"Promoting stimuli-responsive motion in soft matter by host-guest interactions","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.06.016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.06.016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><span><span>Soft actuators capable of performing complex mechanical motions are highly sought after for the development of next-generation smart materials. Nevertheless, none of the soft actuators reported to date have achieved multiple </span>actuation<span> modes using a single material. To overcome this limitation, we present a responsive composite film that displays distinct actuation modes when exposed to organic vapors. This material is readily prepared and scaled up by incorporating novel urea-cage compounds into a </span></span>polymer matrix<span>. Through a comprehensive investigation into the actuation mechanism, we demonstrate that the exceptional actuation behavior arises from the polymorphic transformations of the crystalline urea cages, which are triggered by selective host-guest interactions between the cages and solvent guests. It is worth emphasizing that, for the first time, the tool of host-guest chemistry has been harnessed to achieve complex mechanical motion in a soft actuator.</span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 3184-3198"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141597363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.08.023
Yuya Domoto
Entangled structures have fascinated scientists for both their artistic beauty and functional properties. Zhang and co-workers have recently reported, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the synthesis of a cinquefoil knot in which metal coordination sites can be tuned using post-synthetic protocols, providing a way to edit the skeletons of topological molecules in order to endow them with otherwise inaccessible functions.
纠缠结构的艺术美感和功能特性令科学家们着迷。Zhang 及其合作者最近在《美国化学学会杂志》(Journal of the American Chemical Society)上报告了一种五叶结的合成,其中的金属配位位点可通过后合成协议进行调整,从而提供了一种编辑拓扑分子骨架的方法,以赋予它们其他无法获得的功能。
{"title":"Post-synthetic tuning of metal coordination on entangled scaffolds","authors":"Yuya Domoto","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.08.023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.08.023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Entangled structures have fascinated scientists for both their artistic beauty and functional properties. Zhang and co-workers have recently reported, in the <em>Journal of the American Chemical Society</em>, the synthesis of a cinquefoil knot in which metal coordination sites can be tuned using post-synthetic protocols, providing a way to edit the skeletons of topological molecules in order to endow them with otherwise inaccessible functions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 2933-2934"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142321347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.023
Inbar Zaltsman , Moshe Kol
The environmental accumulation of oil-based plastics calls for the introduction of alternatives emerging from renewable resources that are chemically recycled back to monomer. In this issue of Chem, Miyake and coworkers describe camphor-derived monomers that give polymers of varying stereo-regularities and desired properties that may be depolymerized back to monomer.
{"title":"Camphor the polymerization; stay for the depolymerization","authors":"Inbar Zaltsman , Moshe Kol","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environmental accumulation of oil-based plastics calls for the introduction of alternatives emerging from renewable resources that are chemically recycled back to monomer. In this issue of <em>Chem</em>, Miyake and coworkers describe camphor-derived monomers that give polymers of varying stereo-regularities and desired properties that may be depolymerized back to monomer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 2950-2952"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142398311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.009
J. David Bazak , Karl T. Mueller , Vijayakumar Murugesan
Anode-free Li-ion batteries could attain new levels of energy density, but challenges remain in controlling deposition and managing degradation. In this issue of Chem, Kwon et al. probe Li metal growth using operando NMR to unravel how cathode materials impact performance and establish criteria for the high-energy/low-cost design tradeoff.
{"title":"Battery detectives: Uncovering cathode impact on anode-free Li cell performance by operando NMR","authors":"J. David Bazak , Karl T. Mueller , Vijayakumar Murugesan","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anode-free Li-ion batteries could attain new levels of energy density, but challenges remain in controlling deposition and managing degradation. In this issue of <em>Chem</em>, Kwon et al. probe Li metal growth using <em>operando</em> NMR to unravel how cathode materials impact performance and establish criteria for the high-energy/low-cost design tradeoff.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 2935-2937"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142398238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.004
Jun Xu, Yuting Yang, Huanyu Jin, Yao Zheng, Shi-Zhang Qiao
Rationally designing anode electrocatalysts is crucial for advancing next-generation proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). However, the most developed oxygen evolution catalysts in labs often cannot be directly applied to commercial PEMWEs due to differences in durability, performance, and cost. In this perspective, we review these gaps between fundamental lab research and practical device requirements and propose solutions to bridge them. We cover degradation mechanisms and durability evaluations in lab-scale aqueous model systems (AMSs) and PEMWEs. The need for performance benchmarking for anode screening and assessment is addressed, emphasizing reliable test protocols in AMSs and PEMWEs. Additionally, we discuss the importance of cost reduction in anodic catalyst design for future PEMWEs systems. Finally, we highlight major challenges and propose outlooks for anode design in fab-oriented applications to achieve the ultimate green hydrogen goal of “1 kg H2 produced by 1 USD in 1 decade” (“111” goal).
{"title":"Bridging gaps between lab- and fab-oriented anode design for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers","authors":"Jun Xu, Yuting Yang, Huanyu Jin, Yao Zheng, Shi-Zhang Qiao","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"Rationally designing anode electrocatalysts is crucial for advancing next-generation proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). However, the most developed oxygen evolution catalysts in labs often cannot be directly applied to commercial PEMWEs due to differences in durability, performance, and cost. In this perspective, we review these gaps between fundamental lab research and practical device requirements and propose solutions to bridge them. We cover degradation mechanisms and durability evaluations in lab-scale aqueous model systems (AMSs) and PEMWEs. The need for performance benchmarking for anode screening and assessment is addressed, emphasizing reliable test protocols in AMSs and PEMWEs. Additionally, we discuss the importance of cost reduction in anodic catalyst design for future PEMWEs systems. Finally, we highlight major challenges and propose outlooks for anode design in fab-oriented applications to achieve the ultimate green hydrogen goal of “1 kg H<sub>2</sub> produced by 1 USD in 1 decade” (“111” goal).","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"192 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":23.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142398237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.019
Martin Baunach
The production of tailored biological drugs by genetic engineering represents a significant challenge in the field of natural product chemistry. In this issue of Chem, Bode and co-workers have successfully developed a biosynthetic production platform for novel syrbactin-class proteasome inhibitors by assembling an NRPS/PKS hybrid from four different natural megasynthetases.
{"title":"Fine-tuning of proteasome inhibitors through rational pathway engineering","authors":"Martin Baunach","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The production of tailored biological drugs by genetic engineering represents a significant challenge in the field of natural product chemistry. In this issue of <em>Chem</em>, Bode and co-workers have successfully developed a biosynthetic production platform for novel syrbactin-class proteasome inhibitors by assembling an NRPS/PKS hybrid from four different natural megasynthetases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 2948-2950"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142398310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.010
Manabu Abe
Mechanochemical force can pull apart specific bonds, an action that is crucial for efficient and selective chemical transformations. Predicting chemical reactivity under tension force unlocks the selective bond cleavage reaction using ultrasonic irradiation. In this issue of Chem, Craig, Kulik, Moore, and colleagues developed an intuitive physical organic model to understand and predict the chemical reactivity of carbon-carbon bonds under tension.
{"title":"Simple physical organic model to predict mechanochemical bond-breaking","authors":"Manabu Abe","doi":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chempr.2024.09.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mechanochemical force can pull apart specific bonds, an action that is crucial for efficient and selective chemical transformations. Predicting chemical reactivity under tension force unlocks the selective bond cleavage reaction using ultrasonic irradiation. In this issue of <em>Chem</em>, Craig, Kulik, Moore, and colleagues developed an intuitive physical organic model to understand and predict the chemical reactivity of carbon-carbon bonds under tension.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":268,"journal":{"name":"Chem","volume":"10 10","pages":"Pages 2938-2940"},"PeriodicalIF":19.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142398042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}