An alternating current paired photo-electrocatalysis approach, integrating electrochemistry, ligand-to-metal charge transfer photocatalysis and asymmetric nickel catalysis, enables enantioselective C(sp³)–C(sp²) cross-coupling of alcohols. This approach has high catalytic efficiency and stability, achieving up to 99% enantiomeric excess with broad substrate compatibility, and is suitable for late-stage functionalization of complex molecules.

Helicity-overriding behaviour in supramolecular copolymers is reported by manipulating the energy landscape of chiral co-monomers, where one chiral monomer can override the intrinsic helical preference of another, even when present in the minority. This finding offers insights into asymmetry amplification in multicomponent supramolecular systems.

Multiple bonds involving heavier elements were considered impossible but have recently been shown to be stable and offer divergent reactivity. Here the isolation of an alumene (a compound containing an Al=C bond) via direct CO reduction is described. Analysis of the alumene and its ability to homologate CO is reported.

Molecular engineering has increased the power conversion efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), surpassing that of regular PSCs. Here, the symmetric molecule (2-(pyren-2-yl)ethyl)phosphonic acid (pPy) enables long-range-ordered π–π stacking, enhancing charge transport. pPy films show face-on orientation and uniform distribution, yielding PSCs with power conversion efficiencies of 26.6%.

The low natural abundance of heavy water makes high-purity extraction challenging. Here, a porous molecularly woven fabric is constructed that features adaptive pores enabling the efficient dynamic separation of water isotopologues at room temperature (298 K).

Living supramolecular polymerization (LSP) is a promising strategy to construct well-defined supramolecular nanostructures but precise control over polymerization remains challenging. Here, a cation−π-dominated pathway regulation strategy is proposed enabling the effective regulation of the kinetic and thermodynamic energy landscapes in LSP by dynamically switching various aromatic cation−π bonding modes.

A chiral mesostructured copper-doped In₂S₃ photocatalyst is reported for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to ethanol. Chirality-induced spin polarization stabilizes key intermediates, which are converted over Cu–In active sites, promoting C–C coupling and achieving high ethanol selectivity and yield.

Helical polythiophene and polypyrrole are synthesized using a chiral iron-based metal–organic framework template. Single-handed helices are formed within the framework’s narrow channels, enhancing the chirality-induced spin polarization of the metal–organic framework to 94%.

A network is developed that immobilizes perovskite colloids during printing. This enables uniform deposition of high-quality films, resulting in flexible solar cells that offer power conversion efficiencies of up to 26.22% and high robustness for wearable applications.

Rotenoids are natural insecticides from Fabaceae plants. Here the complete biosynthetic pathway to make rotenoids is elucidated in Amorpha fruticosa and Tephrosia vogelii, revealing a unique Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase that catalyses core B-ring formation via redox-neutral cyclization. These findings enable the production of rotenoids in tobacco, paving the way for future biotechnological production.

Song Lin, Tisch University Professor at Cornell University, talks to Nature Synthesis about the development and commercialization of SPECS (Small Photoelectronic ElectroChemical Synthesizers) for wireless electrochemistry.

In this Focus issue, we examine synthetic routes to perovskites for a variety of applications.