Inorganic chemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

Halogen-substituted silylium ions are among the strongest known Lewis superacids with promising synthetic applications, but their synthesis has not been possible using established methods for generating silicon cations. Now, a general approach to these elusive reactive intermediates is reported, based on the protonation of halosilanes with a Brønsted superacid.

Helical polythiophene and polypyrrole are synthesized using a chiral iron-based metal–organic framework template. Single-handed helices are formed within the framework’s narrow channels, enhancing the chirality-induced spin polarization of the metal–organic framework to 94%.

This Review highlights our development of highly efficient and selective palladium catalysts for direct arylation polymerization (DArP). P(2-MeOC₆H₄)₃ (L1) serves as a key supporting ligand that maintains reactive mononuclear Pd species. Coligands (TMEDA or XPhos) suppress side reactions and facilitate the activation of less reactive C–X bonds. Operating in polymer-solubilizing media (e.g., THF or toluene), these systems yield π-conjugated polymers with number-average molecular weights of up to 347,700 and cross-coupling selectivities of up to >99%; the resulting materials exhibit device-grade performance comparable to that of polymers prepared by conventional Stille coupling.

A common mechanism by which cancer cells acquire resistance to chemotherapeutics is through the overexpression of efflux pumps, but platinum anticancer agents that crosslink DNA and interact with proteins are poor efflux pump substrates. Here, the authors design dual warhead drug conjugates by tethering a platinum pharmacophore to the doxorubicin backbone, which exhibit the activity of both parent anticancer compounds and can overcome drug efflux effectively due to covalent binding to intracellular biomolecules.

Super-resolution microscopy techniques can break conventional optical diffraction limits, but their performance can only be optimized by using probes with appropriate biophysical and photophysical properties. This Review highlights how transition metal complexes are being designed to meet these challenges.

Separation of CO₂ from gas mixtures is a major application focus for porous materials. Now it has been shown that fluorinated non-porous crystalline materials can uptake CO₂ via mobile perfluoroalkyl regions, a process resembling the dissolution of CO₂ in perfluoroalkanes, while CH₄ uptake is hindered. In situ X-ray diffraction data provide insight into the sorption process.

Halogen-substituted silylium ions are among the strongest known Lewis superacids with promising synthetic applications, but their synthesis has not been possible using established methods for generating silicon cations. Now, a general approach to these elusive reactive intermediates is reported, based on the protonation of halosilanes with a Brønsted superacid.

The isolation of critical materials from minerals is challenging due to their comparable chemical properties and tendency to co-exist with one another. Instead of driving lanthanide separation by chemical extraction, a study leverages solubility differences between adjacent lanthanides to isolate Nd from used NdFeB magnets.

Electron counting and oxidation states are fundamental concepts used for understanding a molecule’s electronic structure. A recent study of PuO₂ provides insights into how covalency can impact our assessment of the electronic structures of f-element materials.

The formation of lanthanide–carbon triple bonds is generally considered unfeasible. Now, a cerium–carbon triple bond is stabilized through encapsulation within an endohedral fullerene cage, suggesting a revision to the fundamental concepts of lanthanide bonding theory.

The π-allyl cation is a three-carbon system featuring a positive charge and a conjugated π-system. There is interest in preparing heavier π-allyl cation analogues, but the synthesis of these is challenging. Now, a compound featuring a cationic triatomic bismuth-based core has been isolated and fully characterized.