Nature Chemistry, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02254-yYasir Raouf examines how dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a deceptively simple molecule, spans organic chemistry, cryobiology, medicine, and drug discovery. Diverse applications emerge from its highly polarized sulfur–oxygen bond and sterically protecting methyl groups.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02255-xIs it chemistry or culture that dictates whether an insect is seen as a food delicacy or a contaminant? Michelle Francl wonders whether ants belong on her spice shelf.

Hydrogen atom transfer agents key to solvent-free method to produce pristine monomers from old acrylic

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 29 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02262-yElectrochemical isotope separation offers an alternative to conventional energy-intensive separation processes, but the mechanism underpinning 13C enrichment is unclear. Now, a relationship is established between catalyst design and isotopologue enrichment in CO2 electrolysis, in a step towards a predictive and scalable strategy for carbon-isotope separation.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 29 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02241-3Manipulating and stabilizing correlated quantum states in 1T-TaS2 remain key challenges. Now it has been shown that the commensurate charge density wave stability temperature can be elevated to 330 K via arginine intercalation, establishing a chemically tunable hybrid-superlattice strategy for tailoring correlated states and electronic orders in van der Waals materials.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02249-9Deep electrochemical reduction offers a safe and sustainable route to reduction potentials beyond the reach of many conventional reagents. In this Review, the authors detail how these conditions can enable new reactivity and transformations, and strategies to mitigate the challenges of extreme reducing environments.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02277-5Phenylalanine has a hydrocarbon side chain that is difficult to chemically modulate. Now, a bioorthogonal strategy is developed in which this side chain is caged with iodine and selectively decaged by a palladium species. This approach enables on-demand control of hydrophobic and π interactions in cells and at the cell surface.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02259-7Access to long-lived light-induced states in earth-abundant transition-metal chromophores is desirable but hard to achieve. Now, enhanced metal–ligand covalency has been shown to increase the lifetime of the photomagnetic high-spin state in a manganese photoswitch.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02257-9Electrochemical isotope separation offers continuous and mild 13C enrichment but the role of catalysts in the chemical mechanism remains elusive. Now, it has been shown that catalyst-directed vibrational-frequency disparities can impact isotope enrichment capabilities, establishing a predictive design principle for scalable enrichment that achieves 14% 13CO2 output from natural-abundance CO2.

A boron phase prepared under pressure is a million times more conductive than chemists expected, and can be stretched.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 24 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02251-1Simultaneously controlling the topology and bimetallic node arrangement in conductive two-dimensional conjugated metal–organic frameworks obtained from a single ligand is challenging. Now a strategy based on a low-symmetry ligand enables site-selective and sequential coordination, yielding seven single-crystalline frameworks with distinct architectures and charge transport properties.

A boron phase prepared under pressure can be stretched.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02246-yN-Alkyl aziridines have long resisted catalytic ring opening and existing strategies rely on electron-withdrawing N-activating groups. Now, simple borane coordination is shown to direct radical fragmentation of these substrates, providing a general platform for divergent ring-opening functionalization that streamlines access to β-functionalized amines.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02267-7Accessing metastable boron allotropes beyond those attainable through conventional thermodynamic routes is a central challenge in boron chemistry. Now, an allotrope featuring an open-framework architecture comprising B12 icosahedra interconnected by triangular B3 units has been synthesized through high-pressure formation of a Na4B60 precursor followed by sodium degassing. This allotrope exhibits both high electrical conductivity and plastic deformability.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02247-xAziridine ring opening is a powerful strategy for molecular diversification, but direct functionalization of unactivated N-alkyl aziridines has remained a long-standing challenge. Now it has been shown that aziridine-ligated boryl radicals enable direct ring opening and divergent functionalization of N-alkyl aziridines, providing streamlined access to diverse β-functionalized amines.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02261-zCharged point defects cause efficiency loss and instability in perovskite solar cells. Although Lewis acids and bases individually passivate oppositely charged defects, they typically react with one another. Now bulky phosphine bases and fluorinated aromatic acids have been shown to enable concurrent defect passivation and power conversion efficiencies up to 27.4%.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 22 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02244-0In recent years, there has been a surge in the development of reactions using photoredox catalysis. However, the ability to reproduce these reactions varies wildly, owing to key factors such as light source, temperature control and the use of co-catalysts not being clearly defined and reported.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 22 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02235-1Nitrate is a notoriously difficult substrate for molecular catalysts because of its weak metal-binding affinity and strong N–O bonds. Now, a network of secondary-sphere hydrogen-bonding interactions within an iron coordination complex has been shown to enhance nitrate binding and activation, promoting its catalytic reduction to nitric oxide and ammonia.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 18 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02252-0Peptides can assemble into two-dimensional ultrathin materials with programmable structures and functions, but maintaining crystallinity and stability is challenging. Now, a metal-directed assembly strategy enables mechanical weaving of peptides to provide highly durable and modular two-dimensional peptide crystals with molecular-level precision.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 18 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02240-4Small-molecule walkers that combine autonomy with kinetic asymmetry have remained elusive. Now, simple phosphoric acid esters are shown to drive a non-enzymatic reaction cycle that autonomously migrates a phosphate group along five hydroxy footholds, expanding the scope of synthetic molecular machinery.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02253-zNitrogen fixation is a challenging, energy-intensive process. Now, iron salts and a molybdenum catalyst have been shown to drive the photosynthetic reduction of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia using water as the terminal electron donor, suggesting a promising new pathway for one of the most important chemical reactions.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02256-wThe charge state of oxygen vacancies, manifested as distinct F centres, remains an underexplored descriptor for electrocatalytic pathway modulation. Now it has been shown that different F centres in ZrO2 regulate oxygen reduction via unique electronic behaviours, establishing F-centre identity as a key indicator for electrocatalytic selectivity.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02245-zVisualizing plasmon-enhanced H2 activation and propagation on catalytic surfaces remains challenging because conventional spectroscopies lack nanoscale resolution. Now it has been shown that tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy maps H2 activation within an Ag tip–Pt(111) nanocavity and reveals H atoms propagating hundreds of nanometres across Pt(111) through a collective crowd effect.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02248-wRigid coordination bonds readily generate highly connected secondary building units in metal–organic frameworks, but weaker and less directional interactions have rarely afforded comparable architectures in molecular crystals. Now ammonium halide ion pairs are shown to aggregate into discrete clusters that function as soft secondary building units, opening a route to non-metallic organic frameworks with diverse topologies.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02243-1Electrochemical CO2 reduction is typically constrained by proton-coupled electron transfer, which couples CO2 conversion with competing H2 evolution. Now it has been shown that a Janus palladium membrane electrode enables selective formate production through heterogeneous hydride transfer, providing access to electrochemical hydride-based reactivity beyond proton-mediated electrocatalysis.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02232-4Chemical recycling of polymers has largely relied on thermally unstable tailor-made materials or highly diluted depolymerization conditions. Now, a bulk main-chain scission pathway enables the rapid, low-temperature depolymerization of polymethacrylates. This methodology can be applied to commercial polymers without the need for preinstalled end-groups or sacrificial co-monomers, allowing high-yield recovery of monomers.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02226-2Chemically manipulating phenylalanine’s purely hydrocarbon side chain in living systems is challenging. Now this has been achieved through biocompatible, palladium-triggered decaging of iodine-caged phenylalanine. This enables on-demand control of live-cell hydrophobic interactions as well as π interactions, which spans from fluorophore activation and peptide disassembly to protein binding and tumour–immune cell recognition.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02242-2The programmable assembly of regio- and stereoisomeric alkenes and conjugated homologues has long been regarded as a formidable synthetic challenge. Now a switchable radical and organometallic sorting paradigm has been established through the nickel-catalysed sequential coupling of alkynes, organohalides and a diboron reagent to deliver highly selective alkene isomers and conjugated homologues.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 28 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02234-2Connor Delaney traces the chemical legacy of thalidomide, from the regulatory disaster of the 1960s to the first FDA approval of a PROTAC in 2026.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 28 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02236-0Conferences are built by community members who plan the scientific programme, professional development activities, and social events. Shira Joudan describes how helping to organize a meeting can be a rewarding activity that can shape your scientific community — and how to get involved.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 28 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02227-1Spatiotemporal control over bioorthogonal reactions remains challenging. Now cyclopropanol has been shown to act as a functional moity that is inert under physiological conditions but can be selectively activated by mild electrochemical stimuli to preferentially modify acidic amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate, within hydrophobic regions of proteins.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 27 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02238-yThe kinetic preference for 5-exo-trig over 6-endo-trig pathways in the intramolecular radical [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,5-dienes governs selectivity, a phenomenon dubbed the rule of five. Now it has been shown that subtle electronic tuning can enable programmable regiodivergence under visible-light energy-transfer catalysis, giving access to either bridged bicyclo[2.1.1] or fused bicyclo[2.2.0] scaffolds.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02228-0The rational design of fluorogenic amino acids for peptide-based fluorescence imaging is challenging. Now a strategy has been developed to prepare fluorogenic amino acids with adaptability across UV-to-NIR fluorophore scaffolds. The integration of these amino acids into solid-phase peptide synthesis generates fluorogenic peptide probes for real-time microscopy and flow cytometry in live cells.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 25 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02218-2Ammonia production is responsible for 1.8% of greenhouse gas emissions, inspiring research efforts into alternative, renewable-powered approaches. Now it has been shown that artificial photosynthesis, coupling nitrogen reduction to water oxidation, can proceed efficiently and with high selectivity in seawater or under ambient air.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 21 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02230-6Bioorthogonal chemistry has greatly advanced our ability to explore and manipulate biological systems. Now, a genetically targeted photocatalytic strategy enables spatially controlled, non-natural organic transformations in specific cell types and subcellular compartments, combining abiotic reactivity with biological precision.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02250-2Publisher Correction: How webby is the wood-wide web?

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02239-xHigh-voltage batteries are limited by electrolyte oxidation. Now, a pathway-selective strategy limits electrolyte oxidation by replacing the susceptible α-hydrogens, moving beyond frontier orbital-based design and enabling stable operation at high voltage without fluorination.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02219-1Gas evolution compromises the safety and commercial viability of high-energy lithium metal batteries. Now it has been shown that CH4 generated by ether-based electrolyte decomposition at the Li anode dominates gas evolution. A facile anode activation strategy suppresses CH4-forming interfacial reactions, dramatically reducing gas evolution and extending cycle life.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02225-3Constructing protocell networks with spatial dynamics remains a central challenge in colloidal systems chemistry. Now, binary populations of enzyme-containing protocells with different membrane wettability have been shown to spontaneously segregate in phase-separated media. Enzyme-mediated signals induce reversible phase compatibility, enabling selective protocell recruitment and dispatchment, and the construction of cytomimetic networks with self-regulated spatiotemporal order.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02233-3Conventional energy transfer photocatalysis often requires matching triplet-state energies between catalysts and substrates, which can trigger polymerization side reactions through rapid diradical generation. Now it has been shown that heteroleptic copper(I) complexes enable endergonic triplet photosensitization of either alkenes or bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes, effectively suppressing alkene polymerization and broadening substrate scope.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02224-4The incorporation of unnatural chemical reactions into biosynthetic pathways is a key aim of synthetic biology. Now it has been shown that a nitrene precursor derived from the natural metabolite p-aminobenzoic acid can be generated through biosynthesis in Escherichia coli and transferred to several biosynthesized olefins to form new-to-nature amino alcohol, diamine and diarylamine products.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02231-5The α-arylation of carbonyl compounds remains a central challenge in chemical synthesis. Now it has been shown that BisTrip, a recyclable aryl group transporter, enables rapid and regiospecific α-arylation of diverse carbonyl compounds, providing access to challenging arylated ketones including quaternary carbon centres within intricate molecules.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 17 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02222-6A stable and modular artificial protein–foldamer helical supramolecular synthon enables the assembly of ordered architectures, in which the foldamer dictates protein orientation and spacing on the nanoscale.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02223-5Conductive van der Waals metal–organic frameworks (vdW–MOFs) are an emerging class of electronic materials whose properties are highly sensitive to layer stacking. Now, a strategy enables precise control over the stacking structures of vdW–MOFs by using solvents to direct the formation of metastable supramolecular ligand aggregates prior to framework assembly.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 31 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02200-yPatricia O’Hara discusses how the molecular structure of oleic acid shapes olive oil’s physical properties, culinary behaviour and health benefits, linking ancient symbolism to modern chemistry.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 31 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02220-8Is there a subterranean communication network between trees and fungus or has discussion in popular culture outpaced the evidence? Bruce Gibb discusses the chemistry of plant–fungus interactions, revealing a complex world that is far from well understood.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 30 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02215-5Innovation without inventors