Chemical Society Reviews

Recent progress in transition-metal-catalysed intermolecular saturated C(sp3)–N(sp3) bond formation reactions Saturated C(sp3)–N(sp3) bonds are ubiquitous in organic molecules and serve as key subunits in natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and organic materials. Transition-metal-catalysed C–N cross-coupling reactions have evolved as an enabling platform for C–N bond formation, providing an indispensable synt

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"Recent progress in transition-metal-catalysed intermolecular saturated C(sp3)–N(sp3) bond formation reactions" by Jun-Song Jia, Muneer-ul-Shafi Bhat, Lan Tian, Hao-Ran Zhang, Yu-Long Li, Qiong Yu and Wei Shu

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The edge of halide perovskites: surfaces and interfaces drive solar efficiency and stability Halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as one of the most promising next-generation photovoltaic technologies, owing to high conversion efficiencies, low fabrication costs, and broad material tunability without significant synthetic effort. Early progress directed material screening to boost efficiencies

Don't miss "The edge of halide perovskites: surfaces and interfaces drive solar efficiency and stability" by Diana K. LaFollette, Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena & co!

Part of our collection on Halide Perovskites

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Photoswitchable imaging contrast agents as an emerging frontier in precision bioimaging Photoswitchable molecules exhibit reversible photoisomerization between distinct isomeric states under alternating light irradiation, possessing unique photophysical properties. Derived from these molecules, photoswitchable imaging contrast agents (PICAs) offer significant advantages over conventional agents: (1) b

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"Photoswitchable imaging contrast agents as an emerging frontier in precision bioimaging" by Xiaoqiong Tan, Qiankun Ni, Ting Luo, Ki Taek Nam, Hong-Bo Cheng, Paul J. Dyson, Xing-Jie Liang and Juyoung Yoon

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Sulfonated porous organic polymers: strategic design, synthesis, and applications in catalysis, adsorption, and energy-related processes Porous organic polymers (POPs) have become an innovative class of tailor-made materials, encompassing a variety of frameworks that range from highly crystalline to fully amorphous structures such as covalent organic frameworks (COFs), covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs), porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs), conjugate

Don't miss "Sulfonated porous organic polymers: strategic design, synthesis, and applications in catalysis, adsorption, and energy-related processes" by Ali Reza Oveisi, Saba Daliran, Matías Blanco, Amarajothi Dhakshinamoorthy, Unal Sen, José Alemán and Hermenegildo García

Innovative approaches to the synthesis of five-membered heteroaromatics with emerging synthetic methodologies According to statistics, more than 70% of drugs that are available on the market contain heterocyclic units. Among them, five-membered heteroaromatics bearing nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur have served as the most important structural motifs found in diverse pharmaceuticals. Emerging toolboxes, such as photocatalysis

Check out this new #OpenAccess review by Yu Zhang, Qiannan Li, Zhimin Hu, Zhiyong Leng, Wei-dong Zhang and Shoubhik Das

"Innovative approaches to the synthesis of five-membered heteroaromatics with emerging synthetic methodologies"

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We’re delighted to be able to announce Keary Engle (Scripps Research) and Garret Miyake (Colorado State University) as the joint winners of the 2025 #ChemSocRev Pioneering Investigator Lectureship!

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Pushing ionic thermoelectrics toward power supply applications: origins, advances, challenges, and future directions The emerging ionic thermoelectrics (i-TEs) have been positioned as compelling candidates for low-grade heat harvesting owing to their ultrahigh thermopower, mechanical flexibility, environmental compatibility, and low cost. The past five years have witnessed the rapid advancement of i-TEs, yet their inherent inabil

Be sure to read "Pushing ionic thermoelectrics toward power supply applications: origins, advances, challenges, and future directions" by Menghan Shang, Tingting Sun, Liuqi Cao, Huiru Zhao, Lianjun Wang and Wan Jiang

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Recent research progress on organoboron-based stimuli responsive materials Organoboron-based stimuli-responsive materials have attracted intense research interest over the past decade owing to their broad utility in optoelectronics, chemical sensing, and smart devices. The boron center combines Lewis acidity, pronounced electron-accepting character, and synthetically tunable orbital hybri

From our 2025 #PioneeringInvestigators collection

"Recent research progress on organoboron-based stimuli responsive materials" by Zhiyu Jia, Yue Gao, Tongtong Zhang and Nan Wang

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Shedding light on overpotentials and underpotentials in (photo)electrochemical reactions The concept of overpotential is central to evaluating the performance of catalysts for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical transformations. This thermodynamic metric is well defined in the context of electrochemical reactions involving conducting electrodes, where the overpotential is the difference between an

Don't miss this new Tutorial Review by Daiki Nishiori, Edgar A. Reyes Cruz, Lillian K. Hensleigh, Nghi p. Nguyen and Gary F. Moore

"Shedding light on overpotentials and underpotentials in (photo)electrochemical reactions"

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Molecular fluorophore dimerization: a new paradigm for precision phototheranostics Molecular fluorophore dimerization has recently emerged as a powerful and versatile design strategy in phototheranostics, offering a distinct regulatory regime that is fundamentally different from conventional single-molecule, polymeric, or aggregate-based systems. In this review, we present the first systematic an

Interested in phototheranostics?

Check out "Molecular fluorophore dimerization: a new paradigm for precision phototheranostics" by Hui Bian, Dandan Ma, Yahui Chen, Xiaoqiang Chen, Xiaojun Peng, Juyoung Yoon & colleagues

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From molecular hydrogen to reactive hydrogen: activation pathways and species variation in thermal catalytic heterogeneous hydrogenation The activation of molecular hydrogen (H2) has long represented the central “black-box” challenge in heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysis. The microscopic processes underlying this step remain elusive, largely because of the inherent limitations of characterization techniques, so we have historically fragmented our

Don't miss "From molecular hydrogen to reactive hydrogen: activation pathways and species variation in thermal catalytic heterogeneous hydrogenation" by Zhengyang Chen, Shanjun Mao, Wenda Hu, Yong Wang, Buxing Han and Yong Wang

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Bayesian optimization for chemical reactions Bayesian optimization (BO) enables data-efficient optimization of complex chemical reactions by balancing exploration and exploitation in large, mixed-variable parameter spaces. This review provides an accessible introduction for chemists wishing to adopt BO, outlining the fundamentals of surrogate models, acquisit

Be sure to read this recent #OpenAccess review by Stefan Desimpel, Matthieu Dorbec, Kevin M. Van Geem and Christian V. Stevens

"Bayesian optimization for chemical reactions"

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Radical enzymatic peptide cyclization in natural product biosynthesis Cyclic peptides are privileged scaffolds in natural product biosynthesis and drug discovery, valued for their structural diversity, metabolic stability, and potent biological activities. Radical-mediated enzymatic cyclization has emerged as a powerful biosynthetic strategy for constructing structurally complex and

Interested in natural product biosynthesis?

Check out "Radical enzymatic peptide cyclization in natural product biosynthesis" by Ziwei Yao and Brandon I. Morinaka

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Bioinspired thermal management fibers and textiles Thermal management fibers and textiles are crucial for the survival and adaptability of humans across various environments. However, traditional textiles are deficient in a dedicated heat transfer design and therefore fail to meet the demands of thermal management under extreme temperature environments. In this reg

Don't miss "Bioinspired thermal management fibers and textiles" by Mingrui Wu, Xuanhao Lin, Weiwei Gao and Hao Bai

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Recent advances in solvent effects for biomass-derived platform molecule conversion: experimental and theoretical perspectives Biomass conversion is a cornerstone of sustainable development, offering renewable and carbon-neutral routes to fuels, chemicals, and materials. Liquid-phase catalytic processes are particularly important for biomass upgrading, as many biomass-derived intermediates are nonvolatile and thermally sensitive. The choic

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"Recent advances in solvent effects for biomass-derived platform molecule conversion: experimental and theoretical perspectives" by Minghua Dong, Xiaomeng Cheng, Huizhen Liu and Buxing Han

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Covalent organic frameworks for metal–gas batteries: fundamentals and applications Metal–gas batteries (MGBs, e.g., Li–O2, Li–CO2, Zn–air batteries) are considered a promising candidate for next-generation energy conversion and storage systems due to their advantages of high energy density, environmental friendliness, and low cost. However, their practical applications are still limited by the sl

Interested in COFs?

Check out "Covalent organic frameworks for metal–gas batteries: fundamentals and applications" by Zihao Wang, Chenhui Yan, Hui Peng, Imran Shakir, Guofu Ma and Yuxi Xu

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Charging molecular nanographenes with electrons through chemical reduction Chemical reduction studies of molecular nanographenes with different core dimensions and topologies are used to uncover their electron accepting abilities and original outcomes of the negative charge build-up. A combination of X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic analysis of the gradually reduced nanographenes

Don't miss "Charging molecular nanographenes with electrons through chemical reduction" by Yikun Zhu and Marina A. Petrukhina

Read the full review here, included in our collection celebrating 200 years of benzene 👉

Curvature geometry–spin electronics–catalytic dynamics coupling in emerging catalytic engineering In complex reaction systems such as energy conversion and environmental catalysis, the traditional “structure–performance” relationship framework centered around active sites is gradually revealing limitations, such as insufficient regulation dimensions and rigid reaction pathways. In recent years, curvature engine

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"Curvature geometry–spin electronics–catalytic dynamics coupling in emerging catalytic engineering" by Xiayan Zhang, Jinrong Lu, Jialu Liu, Mingyu Sun, Guoqing Zhang, Shengwei Kong, Mengzhou Zhang, Jia Wang, Zihang Li and Xinjian Shi

Read it here 👉

Don't miss this #OpenAccess Review by Natalia Yantara, Xuechao Xing, Divyam Sharma, Darrell Jun Jie Tay, Shibi Varku and Nripan Mathews

"From solar cells to memristors: halide perovskites as a platform for neuromorphic electronics"

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Recent advances and challenges in thermoelectrics toward near-room-temperature and high-temperature applications Thermoelectric (TE) materials offer significant potential for sustainable energy conversion. Their practical implementation, however, is strongly governed by temperature-dependent performance, which dictates their suitability for specific application domains. The applications are typically categorized into near-roo

Learn more about thermoelectrics with this new review by Qianhui Lou, Yuechu Wang, Shen Han, Tiejun Zhu & colleagues

"Recent advances and challenges in thermoelectrics toward near-room-temperature and high-temperature applications"

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Advances in artificial cells capable of metabolic mimicry: from fundamentals to applications Artificial cells capable of mimicking metabolism represent a rapidly evolving frontier in synthetic biology. These systems integrate enzymes to reconstruct essential metabolic pathways, enabling the study of cellular processes in simplified yet controllable environments. This review provides a comprehensive overvie

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"Advances in artificial cells capable of metabolic mimicry: from fundamentals to applications" by Yan Jia, Jingjing Zhao, Wenxia Xu, Xiangxiang Zhang, Shubin Li and Xiaojun Han

Read the full Tutorial review here 👉

Our industry-academia roadmap toward #greener, #safer, and #sustainable-by-design #pharmaceuticals, #agrochemicals, and #fine #chemicals is featured on the cover of @chemsocrev.rsc.org (@rsc.org)! Congrats to all authors! Artwork by Carmelo Garofalo.

Multifaceted maleimide scaffolds in focus: from synthesis to photophysical applications Substituted maleimides, particularly those bearing substitution at the 3- or 3,4-positions, are valuable building blocks in organic synthesis and chemical biology. While classical methods for their preparation rely on halogenated precursors obtained via mono- or dihalogenation of maleic anhydride, these approaches

Don't miss this new Tutorial Review by Marcelo H. R. Carvalho, Pedro P. de Castro, Giovanni W. Amarante, & co!

"Multifaceted maleimide scaffolds in focus: from synthesis to photophysical applications"

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Enantioselective reductive couplings and related transformations under cooperative photoredox catalysis The development of catalytic and enantioselective methods for constructing chiral carbon–carbon bonds remains a significant challenge and crucial objective in organic synthesis, as these chiral bonds are ubiquitous in bioactive molecules and natural products. The straightforward construction of chiral C–C bonds thr

Be sure to read "Enantioselective reductive couplings and related transformations under cooperative photoredox catalysis" by Yongjia Shi and Daoshan Yang

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A unified quantum rate theory of electron transfer: conceptual advances in quantum electrochemistry This viewpoint on recent advances in quantum electrochemistry demonstrates how quantum-rate (QR) theory unifies the Levich, Dogonadze, and Kuznetsov (LDK) and Marcus electron-transfer (ET) theories from the 1960s within a common framework. In particular, QR theory simplifies to these classical models when quantum c

Interested in quantum electrochemistry?

Check out "A unified quantum rate theory of electron transfer: conceptual advances in quantum electrochemistry" by Paulo Roberto Bueno

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Cyclopropane-to-organoboron conversion via C–H and C–C bond activation Organoborons have emerged as a class of privileged building blocks in modern organic synthesis, enabling unparalleled molecular diversity and serving as versatile carboxylic acid bioisosteres with profound implications in drug discovery. Concurrently, cyclopropanes have garnered sustained attention as unique synthe

Don't miss this #OpenAccess Tutorial review by Shuyu Kang, Xueli Lv and Zhuangzhi Shi

"Cyclopropane-to-organoboron conversion via C–H and C–C bond activation"

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Fluorescent dyes in the era of super-resolution imaging: new opportunities, challenges, and evolution Super-resolution fluorescence imaging (SRI) has redefined the capabilities of optical microscopy, enabling the visualization of biological structures at the nanoscale. This paradigm shift is driven by a unifying principle: achieving spatial resolution by precisely controlling the temporal emission of fluorophores,

From our 2025 #PioneeringInvestigators collection!

"Fluorescent dyes in the era of super-resolution imaging: new opportunities, challenges, and evolution" by Shaowei Wu, Dongjie Hou, Qinglong Qiao and Zhaochao Xu

Read the full Tutorial review here 👉

How can thermoelectric coupling catalysis be applied to facilitate biomass conversion into value-added products and hydrogen? Biomass conversion into fuels and chemicals holds great promise for sustainable development, yet its efficient valorization remains hindered by the intrinsic complexity of polymeric structures and oxygen-rich functionalities. While thermocatalysis specializes in depolymerization and electrocatalysis enables precise

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"How can thermoelectric coupling catalysis be applied to facilitate biomass conversion into value-added products and hydrogen?" by Hao Chang, Ao Xia, Junyi Ji, Qiang Liao & colleagues.

Read the full Tutorial Review here 👉

Tailoring grain boundaries of solid-state electrolytes for building better all-solid-state lithium batteries Grain boundaries (GBs), which are inherent and unavoidable microstructural features in polycrystalline materials, play a decisive role in determining the overall performance of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs). Although SSEs hold great promise for enabling safer and higher-energy-density all-solid-state lithium batt

Interested in solid-state lithium batteries?

Check out "Tailoring grain boundaries of solid-state electrolytes for building better all-solid-state lithium batteries" by Yang Luo, Yuke Shen, Xiaofei Yang, Zhonghao Rao, Xueliang Sun and Xianfeng Li

Full review here 👉

Halogen bonding in functional chiral systems The halogen bond (XB) is a directional noncovalent interaction formed between a halogen atom acting as an electrophilic site and a Lewis base. In recent years, it has shown great potential in the design of functional chiral systems. Due to its tunable interaction strength and pronounced directionality, the XB is be

Be sure to read "Halogen bonding in functional chiral systems" by Shuguo An and Pengyao Xing

Read the full review article here 👉