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chemsocrev.rsc.org
Chemical Society Reviews
@chemsocrev.rsc.org
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High impact, accessible reviews from across the chemical sciences. For queries, contact chemsocrev-rsc@rsc.org

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Out now in ChemSocRev...

"Chemiresistive gas sensors for intelligent sensing: design strategies, emerging applications and future challenges" by Chencheng Hu, Wei Zhang, Jiaqi Yang, Yuehan Pei, Xiaoyi Tan, Biao Dong, Hongwei Song and Lin Xu

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Chemiresistive gas sensors for intelligent sensing: design strategies, emerging applications and future challenges
Intelligent chemiresistive gas sensing platforms are emerging as pivotal technologies for addressing global challenges such as climate change, urbanization, and public health crises. As core components of modern sensing systems, these platforms demonstrate immense potential in environmental monitoring, industrial s
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November 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Check out "Twenty years after: scaling relations in oxygen electrocatalysis and beyond" by Vladislav Ivanistsev, Ritums Cepitis, Jan Rossmeisl and Nadezda Kongi

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Twenty years after: scaling relations in oxygen electrocatalysis and beyond
Since the 2000s, so-called scaling relations have been recognised as a limiting factor in electrocatalysis. Overcoming these constraints is essential to advance energy conversion technologies such as electrolysers, fuel cells, and metal–air batteries. This review presents key concepts, tools, and manipulation strat
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November 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
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Be sure to read "Ab initio electronic structure calculations of lanthanide single-molecule magnets; a practical guide" by @nfchilton.bsky.social

Read the #OpenAccess Tutorial review here 👉🔓
Ab initio electronic structure calculations of lanthanide single-molecule magnets; a practical guide
Research into single-molecule magnetism lies at the nexus of challenging synthetic chemistry, spin physics and ab initio quantum chemistry. There are no “one-size-fits-all” textbooks and as such it can be challenging for beginners to navigate the intersection of these fields. This tutorial review is intended as a p
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November 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
From our 2025 #PioneeringInvestigators collection...

"Formaldehyde and its surrogates as a C1 platform for defossilised modern societies" by Andrea Rodil, Jan Deska and Martin H. G. Prechtl

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Formaldehyde and its surrogates as a C1 platform for defossilised modern societies
This tutorial serves as an accessible introduction for researchers and students interested in the multifaceted chemistry of formaldehyde and its potential in shaping a more sustainable future. We explore its roles in renewable energy storage in the form of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) and renewable fuel
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November 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
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Don't miss this new #OpenAccess review by Francisco Foubelo, Carmen Nájera, M. Gracia Retamosa, José M. Sansano, Ana Sirvent and Miguel Yus

"Decarboxylative photocatalytic transformations"

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Decarboxylative photocatalytic transformations
Photocatalytic decarboxylation of carboxylic acids or their redox active esters has become an important strategy in organic chemistry. Using catalytic amounts of metal-based or organic photocatalysts, normally under visible light irradiation, these substrates generate carbon centered radicals, which have been appli
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November 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
From our 2025 Pioneering Investigators collection...

"Activatable covalent labeling probes: design, mechanism, and biological applications" by Yinxing Miao, Yuyang Tian and Deju Ye

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Activatable covalent labeling probes: design, mechanism, and biological applications
Stimuli-activatable covalent labeling probes have emerged as powerful tools for targeted biomolecule labeling, addressing the limitations of conventional covalent probes, such as off-target reactivity, limited spatiotemporal control, and low signal-to-background ratios. These probes remain inert under physiological
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November 17, 2025 at 12:25 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Be sure to read "Emerging applications of stimulated Raman scattering microscopy for medicinal chemistry and drug discovery" by Henry J. Braddick, William J. Tipping, Emma K. Grant, Nicholas C. O. Tomkinson, Karen Faulds and Duncan Graham

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Emerging applications of stimulated Raman scattering microscopy for medicinal chemistry and drug discovery
This review article provides a summary of the progress that has been made in the field of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy with direct relevance to drug discovery and medicinal chemistry. SRS microscopy is emerging as a powerful technique to visualise drugs and bioactive small molecules in cellular and
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November 16, 2025 at 3:24 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Interested in flexible biosensing platforms?

Check out "Electrochromic-based visualised flexible biosensing platforms: from single device to multifunctional device integration" by Yuxiao Zhang, Rongrong Bao, Jianbei Qiu, Yue Liu, Zhengwen Yang and Caofeng Pan

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Electrochromic-based visualised flexible biosensing platforms: from single device to multifunctional device integration
Conventional sensor systems suffer from an inherent limitation in delivering direct visual feedback during the physical-to-electrical signal transduction process, creating a cognitive disconnect between users and functional device interactions. This challenge can be addressed through the development of visualised f
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November 15, 2025 at 12:20 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Check out "Metalloporphyrin- and metallocorrole-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction: from molecules to materials" by Haitao Lei, Jinxiu Han, Qian Zhao, Jinkun Liu, Long Yan, Wei Zhang and Rui Cao

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Metalloporphyrin- and metallocorrole-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction: from molecules to materials
Efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts are pivotal for advancing clean energy technologies, such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Metalloporphyrins and metallocorroles, inspired by biological systems, represent promising molecular catalysts for the ORR due to their tunable structures and redox pr
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November 14, 2025 at 11:19 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Don't miss this new #OpenAccess Tutorial Review by Kai Zhu, David R. Spring, Bing-Feng Shi and Fengzhi Zhang!

"Recent progress towards catalytic asymmetric construction of inherently chiral scaffolds"

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Recent progress towards catalytic asymmetric construction of inherently chiral scaffolds
Inherently chiral scaffolds are a unique type of structurally fascinating building blocks, which have found increasing applications in the field of material chemistry, medicinal chemistry, asymmetric synthesis, molecular recognition and assembly. Owing to the steady demand for these chiral entities, numerous effort
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November 13, 2025 at 9:17 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Be sure to read "Bilayer nanographenes: structure, properties, and synthetic challenges" by Patricia Izquierdo-García, Juan Lión-Villar, Jesús M. Fernández-García and Nazario Martín

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Bilayer nanographenes: structure, properties, and synthetic challenges
Molecular nanographenes (NGs)—graphene analogues at the nanoscale—exhibit atomically defined monodispersity in both size and shape. This synthetic precision enables fine control over their properties. Among the emerging strategies to modulate their electronic and optical properties, vertical π–π stacking between th
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November 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
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Out now in ChemSocRev!

"Mechanistic and thermodynamic insights into binding and activation of small molecules on metallozeolites – relevance for adsorption and catalysis" by Filip Zasada, Piotr Pietrzyk, Mariusz Radoń and Zbigniew Sojka

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Mechanistic and thermodynamic insights into binding and activation of small molecules on metallozeolites – relevance for adsorption and catalysis
Metallozeolites exchanged with 3d transition metal ions (TMI) are versatile catalytic materials due to their well-defined framework structures, redox flexibility, and remarkable adsorption and catalytic properties. These features make them invaluable for both fundamental and applied research, underpinning numerous
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November 11, 2025 at 2:07 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
From our 2025 Pioneering Investigators collection!

"Curium(iii) luminescence spectroscopy as a tool for species determination" by Moritz Schmidt, Andrej Skerencak-Frech, Petra J. Panak and Nina Huittinen

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Curium(III) luminescence spectroscopy as a tool for species determination
Curium is an artificial transuranic element with atomic number 96. It is typically found in its +III oxidation state, which is stabilized by a 5f7 electron configuration. CmIII exhibits intense luminescence from its first excited to its ground state in the red part of the visual spectrum. Due to the nature of the
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November 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
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Be sure to read this new #OpenAccess Tutorial review by Melanie E. Hoffmann and Fritz E. Kühn

"Au NHC complexes as anticancer agents: milestones, strategies and future developments"

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Au NHC complexes as anticancer agents: milestones, strategies and future developments
The need for selective and efficient anticancer therapies drives the development of gold N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) as efficient metallodrugs. Their stability, tunable electronics, and versatile steric features make NHCs ideal ligands, which, paired with an antiproliferating gold centre, form an exemplary metal c
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November 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Interested in near-infrared fluorescence imaging?

Check out "Construction and optimization of organic fluorophores in NIR-II fluorescence imaging" by Xiaozhen Li, Yanlong Yang, Ruohan Zhang and Wei Huang

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Construction and optimization of organic fluorophores in NIR-II fluorescence imaging
Second near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIR-II FLI, 1000–1700 nm) has recently emerged as a cutting-edge imaging modality, offering deeper tissue penetration and superior clarity compared to the visible (400–700 nm) and conventional NIR-I FLI (700–900 nm) due to the reduced photon scattering, weaker tissue autof
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November 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Check out "Current developments and future perspectives on the formation of luminescent lanthanide supramolecular self-assembly architectures with a focus on nitrogen-based donor ligands" by Sandra Fernández-Fariña, Oxana Kotova, Shauna R. Donohoe and Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson
Current developments and future perspectives on the formation of luminescent lanthanide supramolecular self-assembly architectures with a focus on nitrogen-based donor ligands
Research on luminescent lanthanide (Ln) self-assembly structures has emerged into a discrete field with clear evolution from monometallic to polymetallic systems over the last few decades. The interest in these assemblies stems, on the one hand, from their structural diversity and fascinating complexity, while on t
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November 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Don't miss this new Tutorial Review by @weisslab-unicaen.bsky.social

"Organoantimony: a versatile main-group platform for pnictogen-bonding and redox catalysis" by Elisa Chakraborty and Robin Weiss

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Organoantimony: a versatile main-group platform for pnictogen-bonding and redox catalysis
The chemistry of main-group elements has seen remarkable advances in organic synthesis and catalysis, redefining the boundaries of redox and acid–base reactivity traditionally dominated by transition metals. Among these developments, organoantimony chemistry has remained largely overlooked. Yet, recent discoveries
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November 6, 2025 at 11:41 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Check out this #OpenAccess review by Prakash Kafle, Deacon Herndon and Indrajeet Sharma

"Sulfenylcarbenes and sulfenylnitrenes in organic synthesis"

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Sulfenylcarbenes and sulfenylnitrenes in organic synthesis
Sulfenylcarbenes and sulfenylnitrenes are ambiphilic intermediates possessing an unoxidized sulfur atom adjacent to their reactive center. Their unique properties and tunable reactivity make them a model species for studying carbenes and nitrenes in cycloaddition reactions, atom incorporation, late-stage functional
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November 5, 2025 at 10:40 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Out now in ChemSocRev...

"Modeling protein–ligand interactions for drug discovery in the era of deep learning" by Yuzhe Wang, Yibo Li, Jiaxiao Chen and Luhua Lai

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Modeling protein–ligand interactions for drug discovery in the era of deep learning
Accurate modeling of protein–ligand interactions is a cornerstone of rational drug discovery, yet persistent challenges remain due to the intricate complexity of molecular interactions and the limitations of conventional physics-based computational methods. Approaches such as molecular dynamics simulations, molecul
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November 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Be sure to read "Radical retrosynthesis: a powerful strategy for modern assembly of terpenoid natural products" by Yong Zhang, Yanbo Zhang and Chao Li

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Radical retrosynthesis: a powerful strategy for modern assembly of terpenoid natural products
Radical retrosynthesis has emerged as a powerful strategy for the modern assembly of complex natural products, offering a one-electron logic that complements traditional polar disconnections. This review highlights recent advances—particularly developed over the past decade—in radical methodologies and their strate
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November 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
From our 2025 Pioneering Investigators collection...

"Supramolecular catalysis with emerging, functional organic macrocycles and cages" by Rui Ning and Qi-Qiang Wang

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Supramolecular catalysis with emerging, functional organic macrocycles and cages
The development of supramolecular chemistry has provided both conceptual inspiration and a diverse array of host scaffolds for boosting catalytic processes, thereby driving the ongoing advancement of supramolecular catalysis. Among these, covalent organic hosts are particularly notable for their structurally robust
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November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Be sure to read "Photothermal methane dry reforming: catalyst architectures, mechanistic pathways, and future challenges" by Ruijie Yang, Chengxuan He, Yuan Dong, Weihao Chen, Lingyun Chen, Zhihan Wang, Miao Kan, Shiqun Wu and Jinlong Zhang

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Photothermal methane dry reforming: catalyst architectures, mechanistic pathways, and future challenges
Photothermal dry reforming of methane (PT-DRM) presents a promising strategy for simultaneously mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and valorizing carbon resources by converting CH4 and CO2 into syngas under solar irradiation. By integrating photonic and thermal activation, this hybrid catalytic approach addresses
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November 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
New in ChemSocRev!

"Rational structural design of aromatic Azo photoactive small molecules for biomedical applications" by Junjie Ding, Ze Huang, Duoteng Zhang, Yunwei Qu, Shiji Zhang, Congcong Zhang, Bin Fang, Lin Li and Wei Huang

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Rational structural design of aromatic Azo photoactive small molecules for biomedical applications
Aromatic Azo molecules, including azobenzenes (Ph–N [[double bond, length as m-dash]] N–Ph) and heteroaryl Azo (Het–N [[double bond, length as m-dash]] N–Ph or Het–N [[double bond, length as m-dash]] N–Het), have emerged as versatile and high-performing photoactive switches for biomedical applications. Despite ...
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October 31, 2025 at 3:50 PM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Want to learn more about CO2 electroreduction?

Check out "Optimizing CO2 electroreduction: theoretical insights for enhancing efficiency across elementary steps" by Hengan Wang, Xinchen Kang and Buxing Han

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Optimizing CO2 electroreduction: theoretical insights for enhancing efficiency across elementary steps
The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) can convert CO2 emissions into valuable fuels and chemicals, offering a promising pathway to close the carbon cycle. However, existing CO2RR systems face challenges in holistically optimizing interdependent elementary processes, such as adsorption, electron–
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October 30, 2025 at 10:48 AM
chemsocrev.rsc.org
Out now in ChemSocRev!

"Emerging inorganic–organic hybrid photocatalysts for solar-driven overall water splitting: progress and perspectives" by De-Shan Zhang, Lei Wang, Xiaodong Zhang, Xu-Bing Li, Hangxun Xu, Chen-Ho Tung and Li-Zhu Wu

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Emerging inorganic–organic hybrid photocatalysts for solar-driven overall water splitting: progress and perspectives
The pursuit of sustainable energy technologies has long inspired the development of efficient photocatalysts capable of converting solar energy into hydrogen (H2) via overall water (H2O) splitting. While inorganic semiconductors, such as metal oxides, oxynitrides, and oxysulfides, have demonstrated reasonabl
pubs.rsc.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM