Chemistry – An Asian Journal

All roads lead to Rome: During the last few decades, various approaches for rational heme protein design have emerged. These techniques not only enhance our understanding of the structure and function of heme proteins in nature but also facilitate the creation of novel biocatalysts and biosensors beyond nature.

Gimme a break! Quantum conductance of germanium was measured by electrochemical STM break junction based on a jump-to-contact mechanism. The conductance histogram indicated that the conductance of germanium nanowires was located between 0.02 and 0.15 G₀ (see picture).

I am still just a cat. in the cage: The most significant recent research in the field of artificial metalloenzymes is reviewed with a commentary on future directions. In particular, the review is focused on the potential of protein assemblies such as protein cages and crystals composed of assemblies of protein monomers in efforts to design unique catalytic metal complex systems or metal nanoparticles beyond finely tuned small artificial metalloproteins.

On the double: The covalent double functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a combination of purine–pyrimidine and purine–purine nucleobase systems was achieved through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and by amidation of the carboxylic acids at the tips and defect sites of the nanotubes, which could find application in the development of DNA/CNT nanobioconjugates.

Hi, neighbor! The first organocatalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds was successfully developed with up to 99 % ee. The new methodology provides a direct and facile access to enantiopure cyclic nitro compounds with two contiguous stereocenters.