Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a significant advancement in the asymmetric synthesis of N-chiral compounds, highlighting a collaborative research effort that successfully achieved the first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of these compounds, which is crucial for future studies in this area [4][5]. Group 1: Research Background - The research was conducted by a team from Southern University of Science and Technology and UCLA, focusing on controlling pyramidal nitrogen chirality through asymmetric organocatalysis [4]. - The study addresses the challenges associated with the instability of nitrogen stereocenters and the limited success in asymmetric synthesis of non-cyclic N-chiral compounds [5][7]. Group 2: Methodology and Findings - The team proposed a method to synthesize challenging non-cyclic N-chiral chlorohydroxylamines through asymmetric chlorination reactions, capturing unstable chiral intermediates to obtain more stable N-chiral molecules [7]. - A significant breakthrough was achieved using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst, leading to the successful synthesis of 21 N-stereocenters with high enantioselectivity [8]. - The research demonstrated that introducing a rigid bicyclic structure near the nitrogen atom significantly improved the stability of the configuration, reducing racemization [10]. Group 3: Mechanism and Results - The study confirmed that the key step for stereoselectivity was the chlorination reaction, followed by an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution that adhered to the S N 2 mechanism, ensuring effective transfer of chirality [10]. - The final products exhibited enantiomeric excess values greater than 90%, showcasing the method's effectiveness and broad applicability [10].

Core Viewpoint - The research team led by Zhang Xiaoheng from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a groundbreaking method for direct deamination functionalization using N-nitrosamines, which challenges the traditional industrial processes that have been in use for 140 years [1] Summary by Relevant Sections Research Breakthrough - The new method allows for the direct transformation of aromatic amines into various C-X bonds (including carbon-halogen, carbon-oxygen, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-carbon bonds) through the in-situ formation of N-nitrosamine intermediates under nitric acid mediation, followed by the removal of dinitrogen oxide [1] Industrial Implications - This innovative approach addresses several issues associated with the traditional stepwise strategy, such as the instability and explosive hazards of diazonium salts, significant copper consumption, and limited substrate compatibility [1] Practical Application - The research team has also developed a one-pot deamination cross-coupling strategy, enabling multiple cross-coupling reactions to be completed within the same reaction system by simply adding the corresponding coupling reagents to the deamination intermediate [1] Scalability - The new method can efficiently achieve kilogram-scale synthesis of target products using common laboratory reagents, making it applicable in pharmaceutical and materials manufacturing sectors [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a groundbreaking research published in Nature, which introduces a new method for direct deaminative functionalization using N-nitroamines, providing a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional aromatic amine transformations that rely on hazardous diazonium salts [1][2]. Group 1: Research Breakthrough - The research presents a novel approach that allows for the direct conversion of inert aromatic carbon-nitrogen (C-N) bonds into various important chemical bonds, including carbon-halogen, carbon-oxygen, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-carbon bonds [1][2]. - This method utilizes common laboratory reagents and enables kilogram-scale synthesis, challenging the traditional processes that have been in use for 140 years [2][3]. Group 2: Industrial Implications - The new strategy is expected to have broad applications in critical fields such as pharmaceuticals and materials manufacturing, offering a safe and economical alternative to the widely used but hazardous aryl diazonium chemistry [2][3]. - The direct deaminative functionalization method simplifies the synthesis process and subsequent functionalization by combining deaminative functionalization with transition metal-catalyzed arylation [2][3]. Group 3: Mechanism and Advantages - Mechanistic studies indicate that the reactivity of the aromatic carbon cation equivalent during the deamination process is typically dominant, highlighting the potential of this method in synthetic chemistry [3]. - The direct deamination approach provides a significant advantage over other deaminative functionalization methods, as it is applicable to a wide range of drug-relevant heteroaryl amines with varying electronic and structural properties [2][3].

Core Insights - The article discusses the introduction of the Reac-Discovery semi-autonomous digital platform by the research team from IMDEA Materials Institute in Spain, which addresses the lack of a unified model for geometric parameters in reactor design, enhancing the speed and precision of catalytic reactor development [1][2]. Group 1: Platform Overview - Reac-Discovery integrates design, manufacturing, and optimization modules in a closed-loop system, allowing for parallel evaluation of multiple reactors while incorporating real-time NMR monitoring and machine learning for process optimization [2][6]. - The platform utilizes periodic open pore structures (POCs) to improve performance, reaction efficiency, and material consumption, while enhancing system versatility [2][6]. Group 2: Research Highlights - The integration of mathematical modeling, machine learning, and automated experimental systems allows for a comprehensive approach to catalytic reactor design, from geometric design to experimental optimization [3]. - The platform incorporates topological parameters into the optimization space, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods that focus on single variables like temperature and flow rate [3]. - A neural network-based performance prediction model has been developed, significantly improving experimental efficiency and resource utilization through rapid evaluation iterations [3]. Group 3: Data Generation and Modules - The research team generated an internal multidimensional dataset during experiments, covering geometric structures, printability, and reaction performance, without relying on external datasets [3][4]. - The Reac-Discovery platform consists of three functional modules: Reac-Gen for geometric modeling, Reac-Fab for manufacturing, and Reac-Eval for experimental validation and optimization [6][12]. Group 4: Experimental Validation - The platform's effectiveness was validated through two typical multiphase catalytic reactions: the hydrogenation of phenylacetone and CO₂ cycloaddition, demonstrating robustness, stability, and repeatability in self-optimization and topological reconstruction [15][20]. - In the phenylacetone hydrogenation experiments, the platform successfully identified optimal process conditions from over one million parameter combinations, significantly reducing experimental exploration costs [16][20]. Group 5: Industry Implications - The rapid integration of artificial intelligence in flow chemistry and reactor engineering is establishing self-driving laboratories as a new paradigm in chemical research, enhancing precision, efficiency, and scalability in reaction processes [22][23]. - The potential for self-driving laboratories to replace certain research roles while creating new opportunities highlights the transformative impact of automated systems in scientific exploration [23].

Group 1 - The core achievement in the field of chemistry is the successful design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with large cavities, enabling the ordered combination of metal ions and organic molecules, which provides new methods for synthesizing compounds with controllable spaces [3] - The discovery is seen as a significant advancement that could help address major challenges related to resources, energy, and environmental issues [3] - The work of the award-winning researchers has led to the development of various flexible MOFs that can change shape when filled or emptied of different substances, showcasing their potential applications [1][3] Group 2 - The stable material MDF-5, constructed by Yaghi in 1999, can hold an area equivalent to a football pitch with just a couple of grams, highlighting the efficiency and utility of MOFs [1] - The ongoing research in this area is focused on leveraging the properties of MOFs to find solutions for pressing global challenges [3]

Core Insights - Clarivate announced the 2025 Citation Laureates, recognizing 22 distinguished scholars from 8 countries, including Zhang Tao from China for his pioneering work in single-atom catalysis, making him the first scientist from mainland China to receive this award [1][3]. Group 1: Award Significance - The Citation Laureates award is based on a comprehensive evaluation of multidimensional data, including citation performance, originality and breakthrough of research, identification of core contributors, and peer recognition [5]. - Since its establishment in 2002, 83 Citation Laureates have eventually won Nobel Prizes, highlighting the award's significance in identifying impactful researchers [5]. Group 2: Zhang Tao's Contributions - Zhang Tao and his team proposed the concept of single-atom catalysis in 2011, advancing heterogeneous catalysis research to an atomic precision scale, laying the scientific foundation for precise control in catalytic processes [3]. - The systematic research conducted by Zhang's team not only advanced the field of catalysis but also had a broad impact on various interdisciplinary fields such as energy chemistry, materials science, and biomedicine [3]. - Single-atom catalysis has influenced both academia and industrial applications, with new processes achieving industrial-scale implementation, supporting green chemistry and carbon neutrality goals [3].

Core Viewpoint - The research conducted by the team led by Shen Qilong from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry decodes the redox behavior of copper in Ullmann-type coupling reactions, providing new insights into the catalytic mechanisms involved [2][3][5]. Group 1 - The study reveals the reaction process between well-defined Cu(I) complexes and electron-deficient aryl iodides, leading to the formation of separable Cu(III)-aryl complexes, which subsequently undergo reductive elimination to form C(sp²)−CF₃ bonds [4]. - The research demonstrates that the copper species undergo an oxidation-reduction cycle involving Cu(I)/Cu(III)/Cu(II)/Cu(III)/Cu(I), highlighting the complexity of copper's behavior in these reactions [4][5]. - The team successfully interrupted the catalytic cycle using temperature control and captured the reactivity of copper species through various spectroscopic methods, allowing for an in-depth mechanistic analysis [4][5].

Core Viewpoint - Recent advancements in photocatalytic hydrogen cleavage have been achieved by a research team from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the University of Trieste, Italy, enabling hydrogen cleavage at room temperature [1][2]. Group 1: Research Significance - Hydrogen is a key element in transforming nitrogen into fertilizers and converting carbon dioxide into gasoline, but its cleavage is challenging due to the strong bond between hydrogen atoms [1]. - The research focuses on hydrogen activation, a crucial step in hydrogenation reactions, which accounts for about 25% of chemical processes [1]. Group 2: Methodology and Findings - The team developed a photocatalytic strategy that utilizes spatially adjacent positive and negative charge centers to achieve efficient hydrogen cleavage at room temperature [2]. - By using gold/titanium dioxide as a model catalyst, the team demonstrated that ultraviolet light can induce electron migration, enhancing hydrogen cleavage efficiency [2]. Group 3: Practical Applications - The hydrogen species generated can completely convert inert carbon dioxide into ethane at room temperature, with the catalyst maintaining stable operation for over 1500 hours [3]. - This process significantly reduces energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to the optimization of carbon resource utilization and offering a new model for the upgrading and transformation of modern coal chemical industries [3].

Core Insights - Researchers at University College London (UCL) have achieved a significant breakthrough by successfully connecting RNA with amino acids under simulated early Earth conditions, addressing a long-standing question regarding the synthesis of proteins, which are essential for life [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The study demonstrates that amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, can chemically link with RNA, which serves as the "instruction manual" for protein synthesis [1] - The reaction was conducted in a neutral aqueous environment, showing spontaneity and selectivity, suggesting that similar processes could have occurred in primordial Earth environments such as ponds or lakes approximately 4 billion years ago [1][2] Group 2: Methodology - The research team utilized a novel approach by introducing thioester as an activated intermediate, which is a high-energy compound that plays a crucial role in various biochemical processes [2] - They employed a sulfur-containing compound, pantetheine, to generate thioesters, further supporting its potential role in the origin of life under early Earth conditions [2] Group 3: Theoretical Implications - The findings bridge two prevailing theories of life's origin: the "RNA world" hypothesis, which posits that self-replicating RNA is fundamental, and the "thioester world" hypothesis, which suggests that thioesters were the primary energy source for early life [2] - This research provides a new unified framework for understanding the origins of life, indicating that the reaction pathways identified could have naturally occurred on early Earth [2]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a significant research breakthrough by a team led by Professor Wang Quanming from Tsinghua University, focusing on the structural evolution of silver nanoclusters, specifically icosahedral forms, which are essential for understanding their unique properties [1]. Group 1 - The research published in the journal Science details the synthesis of two giant silver icosahedral nanoclusters containing 213 and 429 silver atoms, serving as model systems for studying the formation process of icosahedra [1][3]. - X-ray diffraction studies indicate that these nanoclusters possess a multilayer structure, supporting a gradual evolution process from nuclei to seeds [1][3]. - The emergence of surface plasmon resonance confirms the metallic characteristics of these silver nanoclusters, highlighting their potential applications in various fields [1][3]. Group 2 - The study successfully utilized ligand engineering and kinetic control to synthesize the two types of giant silver nanoclusters, Ag213 and Ag429, with specific ligands that enhance their stability and properties [3]. - Ag429 is noted as the largest reported silver nanocluster containing 260 valence electrons, showcasing the advancements in nanomaterial synthesis [3]. - The research reveals the atomic-level precise structure of the silver icosahedra, elucidating the layered evolution mechanism from nuclei to seeds [3].