Living cells rely on the choreography of multiple simultaneous functions, without clear boundaries between molecular subsystems. Replicating these capabilities in synthetic cells would represent a major advance in understanding life. This Perspective argues that this challenge requires a shift away from modular design concepts, towards a strategy that integrates the theoretical principles of systems chemistry with data-driven high-throughput experimental methods.

Catalysis has been a standard topic taught in university chemistry courses over the past century yet biocatalysis — or enzyme catalysis — has only recently been integrated into standard chemistry curriculum despite its broad applicability in industry. In a fourth year undergraduate research project course, students can now choose to explore interesting chemical transformations in the lab using biocatalysis instead of traditional synthetic chemistry approaches.

It is 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics, and not only did it bring with it a greater understanding of the world around us, it also introduced a new lexicon. Now, Michelle Francl wonders how the language of quantum mechanics has been flipped to the dark side and appropriated by pseudoscience.

Sophie Beeren discusses the development of cyclodextrins, moving from laboratory curiosities to common ingredients in daily products, active pharmaceutical ingredients and building blocks for supramolecular chemistry.

Thiophene S,S-dioxides are excellent substrates for cycloaddition reactions, but underused in target-oriented synthesis. Here the authors show how these heterocycles enable the asymmetric synthesis of tricyclic indolines, as well as the collective synthesis of the iconic Strychnos alkaloids. Computational studies rationalize the source of asymmetry and reveal a spontaneous SO₂ extrusion pathway.

Alkenes are essential functional groups in organic chemistry, featuring well-defined geometries and bond orders of 2. In this study, cubene and 1,7-quadricyclene are calculated to possess unusual hyperpyramidalized geometries and low alkene bond orders near 1.5. Their resultant high reactivities ultimately permit access to intricate scaffolds and new chemical space.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have substantial environmental and health hazards, but their persistence and stability challenge remediation efforts. Now, a lithium-metal-mediated electroreduction strategy has been developed to effectively degrade PFAS with a high defluorination efficiency across different functional end groups while allowing for upcycling of the released fluoride.

Two-dimensional poly(arylene vinylene) frameworks are promising polymer semiconductors, yet obtaining highly crystalline materials is a major challenge. Now a series of 11 highly crystalline or single-crystalline 2D poly(arylene vinylene)s have been prepared—from 2D imine-linked covalent organic frameworks through a Mannich-elimination strategy—with diverse lattices, enhanced conjugation and specific surface areas up to 2,000 m²â€‰g^−1.

Achieving charge separation with minimal energy loss remains a key challenge in photocatalysis, but traditional approaches often suffer from rapid charge recombination or inefficient energy utilization. Now it has been shown that symmetry-breaking charge separation within organic crystalline nanoparticles can generate long-lived charge-separated states, enabling efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production.

The structural anisotropy necessary for the powered directional rotation of chemically fuelled molecular motors had previously been provided by chiral fuels or enzymes. Now it has been shown that asymmetry in the organocatalyst itself is sufficient for directional fuelled rotation. This informs how chemical energy is transduced through catalysis, the fundamental process that powers biology.

It is 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics, and not only did it bring with it a greater understanding of the world around us, it also introduced a new lexicon. Now, Michelle Francl wonders how the language of quantum mechanics has been flipped to the dark side and appropriated by pseudoscience.

Sophie Beeren discusses the development of cyclodextrins, moving from laboratory curiosities to common ingredients in daily products, active pharmaceutical ingredients and building blocks for supramolecular chemistry.

Catalysis has been a standard topic taught in university chemistry courses over the past century yet biocatalysis — or enzyme catalysis — has only recently been integrated into standard chemistry curriculum despite its broad applicability in industry. In a fourth year undergraduate research project course, students can now choose to explore interesting chemical transformations in the lab using biocatalysis instead of traditional synthetic chemistry approaches.

Lidan Xing and Kang Xu explain how bis(sulfonyl)imide salts use fluorine, with its extreme stability and electronegativity, to balance solubility and stability for developing advanced battery chemistries.

Analysing the sequence, concentration and sub-cellular location of RNA can provide insight into physiological processes and enable disease diagnosis. This issue draws together several articles describing chemical advances that can be applied to detect RNA.