{"title":"Design and Biomedical Applications of Bioactive Clusters.","authors":"Di Liu, Hao Wang, Xiao-Dong Zhang","doi":"10.1002/chem.202503648","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202503648","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bioactive clusters exhibit diverse biological activities, including biocatalytic and optical activities, photothermal and photodynamic effects. These activities can be precisely tuned owing to the clusters' well-defined atom structures, which improve their biomedical applications, such as disease therapy, bioimaging, and targeted drug delivery. In this review, we summarize the classification and bioactivities of bioactive clusters to elucidate design strategies for their rational construction. Following their therapeutic applications against tumors and oxidative stress, and inflammation-related diseases, with an emphasis on their biocatalysis and anti-inflammatory activities. We also highlighted their noninvasive imaging and 3D visualization capabilities and reviewed their associated modalities, with particular attention to integrated imaging-guided therapy. Finally, future perspectives on the development of bioactive clusters are discussed, including artificial intelligence-empowered rational design and activity programming, and biosafety evaluation, which will facilitate their clinical translation.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e03648"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146211726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kaiyan Yuan, Ruidong Qiao, Xiao Yu, Weibin Wang, Xuening Sun, Min Wu, Yixuan Wang, Shuangchen Lu, Xinyi Yang, Bo Zou
{"title":"Controllable Multicolor Luminescence in Homophthalic Anhydride via Pressure Treatment Engineering.","authors":"Kaiyan Yuan, Ruidong Qiao, Xiao Yu, Weibin Wang, Xuening Sun, Min Wu, Yixuan Wang, Shuangchen Lu, Xinyi Yang, Bo Zou","doi":"10.1002/chem.202600027","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202600027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The co-multiplexing of polychromatic emission and stimuli-responsive features within luminescent materials offers unique opportunities for the design of advanced smart materials. However, realizing tunable multicolor emission in single-component materials remains a formidable challenge, particularly when aiming for reproducible and structurally consistent performance. Here, we realized adjustable multicolor emission ranging from blue to cool white and finally warm white light in homophthalic anhydride (HA) crystals through pressure treatment engineering. Detailed structural analyses and theoretical calculations reveal that pressure treatment engineering shortens intermolecular nonbonded interaction distances, enhances orbital coupling, and induces the formation of long-range coupled molecular orbitals. This effect not only enables dimer-based charge transfer (CT) transitions but also modulates the oscillator strengths of multiple CT states, thereby enabling precise control over the photoluminescence (PL) color of HA crystals. This work not only highlights the potential of commercial HA crystals as stimuli-responsive multicolor emitters but also provides new insights for designing smart luminescent materials with multicolor and controllable properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e00027"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146206233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Juan P Mora-Fuentes, Daniel Villar-Castro, J Francisco Barbosa-de-Bessa, Daniel Aranda, Frank Hampel, Dolores Pérez, M Eugenia Pérez-Ojeda, Diego Peña, Andreas Hirsch
{"title":"Tuning the Twist by Molecular Design: A New Strategy for Hexabenzocoronene-Containing Helical Twistacene.","authors":"Juan P Mora-Fuentes, Daniel Villar-Castro, J Francisco Barbosa-de-Bessa, Daniel Aranda, Frank Hampel, Dolores Pérez, M Eugenia Pérez-Ojeda, Diego Peña, Andreas Hirsch","doi":"10.1002/chem.202503509","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202503509","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this work, we present an efficient synthetic methodology that allows precise and selective control on the C-C bonds during the Scholl reaction. The first ever described hexabenzocoronene (HBC)-containing helical twistacene NG2 has been obtained with very high yield and practically no need for purification, starting from a helical-twisted hexacene NG1. X-ray analysis reveals an end-to-end twist angle, from approximately 145° in NG1 to 132° in NG2. This approach has provided access to nanographenes (NGs) with improved properties compared to their planar analogues, in particular, enhanced solubility and high stability. In addition, they exhibit interesting redox properties, which, together with their high molar absorbance and optimal energy levels, highlight their potential as new organic semiconductor materials for emerging photovoltaic and electronic technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e03509"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13150050/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146197201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Weiheng Li, Hongyang Li, Haijie Chen, Fanyang Sun, Gaoran Li
{"title":"Vanadium-Based Sulfur Electrocatalysts for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.","authors":"Weiheng Li, Hongyang Li, Haijie Chen, Fanyang Sun, Gaoran Li","doi":"10.1002/chem.202503601","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202503601","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vanadium (V)-based materials have emerged as a distinctive and versatile class of sulfur electrocatalysts for high-performance lithium-sulfur (Li─S) batteries. Their flexible valence states, strong chemical polarity, and tunable local structures enable robust polysulfide adsorption and accelerated sulfur redox kinetics. This review provides a systematic overview of V-based electrocatalysts, including oxides, sulfides, nitrides, carbides, borides, metal-organic frameworks, and single-atom configurations, and establishes activity-structure relationships that link their electronic structures, coordination chemistry, and surface properties to catalytic function. Key strategies for performance regulation, such as heteroatom modulation, defect engineering, ligand-filed manipulation, and hybridization with conductive hosts, are summarized to elucidate effective design principles for enhancing intrinsic and practical catalytic activity. Furthermore, remaining challenges and future research directions are outlined, highlighting the opportunities in atomic-level material designs, mechanistic elucidation, and device-level optimizations under practical conditions. Collectively, these insights are expected to advance V-based sulfur electrocatalysis toward practically viable Li─S battery technology and inspire broader innovations in next-generation energy storage and conversion systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e03601"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146199590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Regulating Peptide Self-Assemblies by Halogen Bonding and Other Halogen Effects.","authors":"Anindyasundar Adak, Payel Khanra, Anindita Das","doi":"10.1002/chem.70789","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.70789","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This work demonstrates the modulation of peptide self-assembly by halogen bonding (XB) and other halogen effects in synergy with the orthogonal hydrogen bonding of the peptide backbone. Three pentapeptides (featuring a common self-assembling FFK (phenylalanine-phenylalanine-lysine) motif were synthesized. Two peptides were functionalized with a common N-terminal tetrafluoroiodophenyl (TFIP) moiety as the XB donor, while the C-terminal carried either a phenylalanine or a histidine moiety, to examine the effect of XB. Histidine-functionalized peptide displayed a significant C-I···N XB between its TFIP donor and imidazole acceptor, whereas phenylalanine-terminated analogue showed negligible XB interaction. Despite the presence of XB, histidine-containing peptide exhibited diminished thermal stability and lower self-assembly propensity because of the weaker hydrophobic effect of its imidazole ring as compared to the phenylalanine residue. To probe the halogen effect, iodine atom was substituted with fluorine to generate another control peptide. Comprehensive studies revealed markedly higher stability and enhanced viscoelastic properties of the iodine-containing peptide over its fluorinated analogue, along with distinct self-assembly mechanisms (cooperative vs. isodesmic), which was attributed to the greater hydrophobicity and polarizability of iodine atom compared to fluorine. Overall, the observed stability order highlights a subtle balance among XB, HB, and hydrophobic interactions in fine-tuning peptide self.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e70789"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146218003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Template-Assisted Synthesis of Hierarchical Gas Sensing Materials: From Structural Design to Performance Optimization.","authors":"Zhonghui Chen, Ziying Yi, Zirui Min, Pengfei Song, Liwei Han, Wanglin Zhang, Hongye Yuan","doi":"10.1002/chem.71084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.71084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gas-sensing technology is indispensable in fields such as environmental monitoring, industrial safety, food quality control, and medical diagnostics. Template-assisted synthesis can be employed to construct hierarchical structures in gas-sensing materials, enabling precise multiscale control over morphology, porosity, and intrinsic electronic properties, thereby paving the way for developing next-generation gas sensors with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity. Continuous innovations in the synthesis of hierarchical materials like metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have significantly enhanced gas sensing performance in stability, response speed, sensitivity, and selectivity. However, a systematic analysis linking hierarchical structures built via different templating methods to sensing performance remains lacking. This review systematically summarizes the design principles, control mechanisms, and functional applications of three primary templating approaches. Furthermore, this work examines how tailored templating strategies can balance structural precision, synthetic complexity, and environmental impact. Finally, we offer forward-looking perspectives on future development pathways, as well as the challenges and opportunities for practical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e71084"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alessia Fantoni, Romain Carpentier, Nemo Raffoul, Andrea Pappalardo, Antonella Dalla Cort, Kristin Bartik, Gilles Bruylants
{"title":"Calix[5]arene Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles for the Selective Detection of Polyammonium Species in Water.","authors":"Alessia Fantoni, Romain Carpentier, Nemo Raffoul, Andrea Pappalardo, Antonella Dalla Cort, Kristin Bartik, Gilles Bruylants","doi":"10.1002/chem.202503596","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202503596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of sensors capable of selectively detecting polyamines in aqueous environments is crucial for early and noninvasive disease diagnostics. These aliphatic cations participate in fundamental cellular processes, and their dysregulation has been linked to several cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Although conventional detection methods, such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, offer excellent sensitivity, their complexity, cost, and limited portability restrict their use in rapid or point-of-care testing. This work presents a colorimetric nanosensor based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with a p-tert-butyl-calix[5]arene derivative (Calix[5]), a supramolecular receptor with selectivity for primary alkylammonium ions imparted by intracavity host-guest complexation. The molecular recognition event induces interparticle bridging, triggering nanoparticle aggregation that manifests as a visible color change of the suspension. The system exhibits remarkable chain-length-dependent selectivity: long polyammonium chains, such as 1,12-dodecanediammonium and the biogenic polyamine spermine, induce rapid (< 5 min) nanoparticle aggregation, resulting in a distinct plasmonic shift. In contrast, shorter analogues (spermidine, 1,6-hexadiammonium) show negligible responses. These findings demonstrate a simple, rapid, and cost-effective approach for the selective sensing of structurally defined polyamines, with potential applications in noninvasive biomarker monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e03596"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146218025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Regioselective (4+2) Cyclization of 2,3-Indolyldimethanols With 3-Vinylindoles for Synthesis of Bisindole-Fused Six-Membered Rings.","authors":"Xian-Yang Yu, Yong-Bo Zhang, Hao-Lei Yu, Jing-Kai Wang, Ke-Wen Shi, Xin-Yan Guo, Shao-Fei Ni, Wei Tan","doi":"10.1002/chem.202503466","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202503466","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A regioselective (4+2) cyclization of 2,3-indolyldimethanols with 3-vinylindoles was established under the catalysis of Brønsted acids, leading to the efficient construction of structurally diverse bisindole-fused six-membered rings in overall good yields (71%-95%) and with excellent regioselectivity. Moreover, a preliminary investigation on the asymmetric version of this reaction using chiral Brønsted acids was also conducted, demonstrating its potential for enantioselective synthesis of chiral bisindole-fused six-membered rings. This work not only offers a practical approach for synthesizing bisindole-fused rings, but also gives a valuable example of highly regioselective cyclization involving 2,3-indolyldimethanols, thereby significantly enriching the chemistry of 2,3-indolyldimethanols.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e03466"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146218027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Boron Neutron Capture Therapy at a Crossroads: Translational Gap and Emerging Delivery Agents.","authors":"Christoph Selg, Evamarie Hey-Hawkins","doi":"10.1002/chem.202503533","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202503533","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) combines molecular targeting with localized high linear energy transfer radiation, offering a highly selective treatment for refractory malignancies. Despite decades of research, all clinical BNCT trials to date have relied exclusively on the legacy agents boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (BSH), reflecting historical precedent and regulatory familiarity rather than optimal pharmacological performance. Recent advances in boron chemistry, nanotechnology, and molecular imaging have generated a new generation of boron delivery agents with improved tumor selectivity, multifunctionality, and theranostic potential, yet none have reached clinical translation. This review covers boron carriers reported since 2018, categorized as small molecules, boronated polymers and liposomes, boron-conjugated biomolecules, and imaging-guided or theranostic systems. Trends derived from bibliometric analysis reveal a shift toward nanoparticle-based carriers, which offer modular architectures for simultaneous drug loading, targeting, and imaging. Among these, multifunctional nanoplatforms appear particularly promising for personalized BNCT, where in vivo imaging via PET, MRI, SPECT, or fluorescence can enable patient-specific treatment planning and real-time dosimetry. However, the translation of these innovative agents remains constrained by economic, regulatory, and logistical barriers. The field's next frontier will require harmonized dosimetry protocols, validated imaging standards, and coordinated industrial and academic investment to bridge the gap between chemistry and clinic. BNCT thus stands at a translational gap: sustained interdisciplinary collaboration could finally expand its clinical repertoire beyond BPA and BSH toward a new generation of targeted and image-guided boron therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e03533"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13150059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146197203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesco Rigodanza, Beatrice Bartolomei, Ilaria Crea, Paolo Costa, Nicola Demitri, Marcella Bonchio, Maurizio Prato, Jacopo Dosso
{"title":"Synthesis of a π-Extended Phenazine Diimide Derivative and Characterization of Its Closed-Shell Reduced States.","authors":"Francesco Rigodanza, Beatrice Bartolomei, Ilaria Crea, Paolo Costa, Nicola Demitri, Marcella Bonchio, Maurizio Prato, Jacopo Dosso","doi":"10.1002/chem.202503285","DOIUrl":"10.1002/chem.202503285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this work, a systematic synthesis of π-extended phenazine diimide derivatives is reported along with an extensive characterization of the optoelectronic properties of these molecules. The synthetic approach, based on the functionalization of naphthalene imide derivatives, enables both the direct synthesis of phenazine diimides and the preparation of phenazine dianhydride, thus resulting in a great synthetic versatility. Also, a comprehensive computational and spectroscopic characterization of the closed-shell reduced forms of phenazine diimides was carried out. The results indicate the differential formation of a dihydrophenazine or of an uncommon Meisenheimer complex, depending on the reduction conditions. These results highlight the great importance of structural design and reaction conditions in determining the nature of the reduced form of organic molecules, with important implications for the applications of these species as reagents and catalysts.</p>","PeriodicalId":144,"journal":{"name":"Chemistry - A European Journal","volume":" ","pages":"e03285"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13150043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146197175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}