The distinct characteristics of non-ribosomal and ribosomal biosynthetic pathways were long believed to preclude their integration in the biosynthesis of a single-peptide natural product. In this issue of Chem, Crüsemann and co-workers report the first hybrid pathway involved in rufomycin biosynthesis.

Reporting recently in Nature Chemistry, Tokuda and Furukawa have developed a family of robust open frameworks solely via collective van der Waals forces. This study challenges the notion that van der Waals forces are too weak for robust open frameworks, establishing a new assembly paradigm.

In the May issue of Device, Zhao et al. demonstrate that molecular-antenna-enhanced photothermal spectroscopy enables real-time detection of trace analytes with an unprecedented detection limit and response time. This preview explores the transformative potential of a self-learning device capable of identifying complex gas mixtures by highlighting challenges in interpreting intricate IR spectra and

Alkylated arenes are valuable scaffolds in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science. In this work, Ohmiya, Nagao, and co-workers report a radical para-selective alkylation of aroyl chlorides via a unique tele-substitution mechanism mediated by aroyl trialkylphosphonium intermediates. This metal-free strategy proceeds under mild conditions and enables functionalization without the pre-installation

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Aromatic polyamides, also known as aramids, are important high-performance polymers. However, unlike nylon polymers, they cannot be produced through ring-opening polymerization. In this issue of Chem, Diaconescu and co-workers’ novel approach to enabling this polymerization process results in the synthesis of unprecedented ortho-aromatic aramids.

In Nature Synthesis, Tang et al. report the synthesis of a crystalline, mechanically interlocked 2D polymer network featuring [c2]daisy chain linkages via a single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation. Exfoliated few-layer sheets exhibit mechanical properties distinct from those of the bulk crystal.

Separating critical metals by using sustainable chemical methods remains a significant challenge. In this issue of Chem, Schelter and co-workers report a new approach whose control of the second-sphere interactions between cobalt and nickel ammine complexes and simple carbonate anions results in their selective separation by precipitation.

The biosynthesis of bioorthogonal chemical handles for precise protein labeling remains a significant challenge. In this issue of Chem, Thomas Huber and colleagues report the successful biosynthesis of nitrile-containing amino acids and their site-specific incorporation into proteins, enabling efficient protein conjugation and fluorogenic labeling.

In Science, Ma and co-workers report a zero-CO2-emission reaction strategy involving the thermal catalytic ethanol reforming over a 3Pt3Ir/α-MoC catalyst to realize an unprecedented hydrogen production rate of 331.3 mmol H2 gcat−1 h−1 with 84.5% selectivity for value-added acetic acid at a low temperature of 270°C. This breakthrough could become a milestone in sustainable energy technologies and beyond

In heterogeneous hydrogenation catalytic reactions, it is challenging to only hydrogenate the target functional group while preserving all other unsaturated bonds. In this issue of Chem, Shen and coworkers reported a Pt-Fe-Pt heterotrimer with densely populated and precisely arranged Pt atoms, which achieved an increased reaction rate and preferential hydrogenation of the C═O bond in crotonaldehyde

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