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.

pH is a critical regulator of (bio)chemical processes and therefore tightly regulated in nature. Now, proteins have been shown to possess the functionality to drive pH gradients without requiring energy input or membrane enclosure but through condensation. Protein condensates can drive unique pH gradients that modulate biochemical activity in both living and artificial systems.

Electrochemical CO reduction to multi-carbon products offers a carbon-negative approach to produce chemicals, but the intricate reaction pathways lead to a broad spectrum of products. Now it has been shown that alkali cations alter the mechanistic pathways that govern the reaction selectivity involved in the formation of hydrocarbons versus oxygenates.

The rational design of autonomous light-powered molecular motors remains a formidable challenge in nanoscience. Now, a photochemically driven diazene-based rotary motor has been shown to rotate around a single bond, with a preferred direction that can be reversed by changing the wavelength of the irradiation light.

The efficient low-temperature combustion of stable alkanes remains a major challenge in catalysis. Now it has been shown that a Pt–Nb dual-atom catalyst enables propane combustion through a distinct stepwise-boosting, current-assisted atomic relay mechanism, yielding complete conversion below 200 °C and a high turnover frequency.

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.

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.