Electromagnetic Enantiomer: Chiral Nanophotonic Cavities for Inducing Chemical Asymmetry.

Chiral molecules, a cornerstone of chemical sciences with applications ranging from pharmaceuticals to molecular electronics, come in mirror-image pairs called enantiomers. However, their synthesis often requires complex control of their molecular geometry. We propose a strategy called "electromagnetic enantiomers" for inducing chirality in molecules located within engineered nanocavities using light, eliminating the need for intricate molecular design.

Spatial Control of 2D Nanomaterial Electronic Properties Using Chiral Light Beams.

Single-layer two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials exhibit physical and chemical properties which can be dynamically modulated through out-of-plane deformations. Existing methods rely on intricate micromechanical manipulations (., poking, bending, rumpling), hindering their widespread technological implementation.

Ultrasensitive Raman Detection of Biomolecular Conformation at the Attomole Scale using Chiral Nanophotonics.

Understanding the function of a biomolecule hinges on its 3D conformation or secondary structure. Chirally sensitive, optically active techniques based on the differential absorption of UV-vis circularly polarized light excel at rapid characterisation of secondary structures. However, Raman spectroscopy, a powerful method for determining the structure of simple molecules, has limited capacity for structural analysis of biomolecules because of intrinsically weak optical activity, necessitating millimolar (mM) sample quantities.

Evaluating the native oxide of titanium as an electrocatalyst for oxalic acid reduction.

Herein, we show that unmodified titanium electrodes bearing the naturally-forming native TiO coating display superior activity for the electroreduction of oxalic acid to glyoxylic acid and glycolic acid compared to Ti-based electrodes that have been deliberately modified for this purpose, in terms of both oxalic acid conversion and overall yields of reduced products.

Fluorescent carbazole-derived α-amino acids: structural mimics of tryptophan.

Fluorescent tags are commonly used for imaging of proteins and peptides during biological events; however, the large size of dyes can disrupt protein structure and function, and typically require the use of a chemical spacer. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new class of fluorescent unnatural α-amino acid, containing carbazole side-chains designed to mimic l-tryptophan and thus, readily incorporated into peptides. The amino acids were constructed using a Negishi cross-coupling reaction as the key step and exhibited strong fluorescent emission, with high quantum yields in both organic solvents and water.