The origin of translation is one of the great mysteries of prebiotic evolution. We present an experimental system that shows how the earliest steps could have occurred.

Ring expansion to “grow” larger N-heterocycles often uses cycloaddition of strained aza-rings with π-bonds. Here, we report a formal cross-dimerization between three-membered aza-heterocycles and 3- and 4-membered-ring ketones, providing a straightforward means of assembling diverse N-heterocycles.

Obtaining information after a rate determining step (RDS) of a chemical reaction is difficult but essential for its understanding. Now, a Ru(IV) side-on peroxo complex has been isolated after the RDS − the O-O bond formation- in the water oxidation reaction allowing to track the reaction.

We have recently used bioorthogonal reactions to convert microbial rhodopsins into hybrid voltage indicators.

Supramolecular masks at an exquisite level of performance