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Science disengagement amongst school children remains a global challenge, leading to calls for more scientists to engage with the public. Here the authors discuss how a voluntary, flexible program can enhance graduate attributes in addition to addressing barriers to public engagement.

Nonporous coordination polymers (CPs) constructed from flexible bridging ligands have seldom been utilized in practical applications, owing to limited solubility and/or stability in most solvents. Here we have produced nanocrystal coordination polymers (NCPs) with identical crystalline structure to their macroscale counterparts, high solvent dispersibility, and large effective surface area for catalytic application. A microemulsion system has been developed for the mild synthesis of the ZnII- and CuII-NCPs, resulting in control over the size, morphology, and reactivity. Both ZnII- and CuII-NCPs demonstrated high catalytic activity in a ring opening reaction of cyclohexene oxide with aniline; furthermore, reduced Cu-NCPs were employed as efficient, reusable catalysts for an azide–alkyne cycloaddition “click” reaction in the nonpolar solvent heptane. In contrast, all macroscale CP equivalents, prepared by conventional methods, were catalytically inactive.

The incorporation of an imidazoline (IDZ) based switchable surfactant into the lipid membrane of a liposome produces a system that can be triggered to release its solute upon pH change. However, unlike traditional pH-triggered controlled release systems, IDZ–liposomes are capable of undergoing multiple triggering events, resulting in solute release in a pulsatile manner. Furthermore near-total release can be achieved incrementally with temporal control. A mechanism for this reversible behaviour is also proposed, and dependence on the physical properties of the surfactant is discussed.

A series of ditopic ω-di(2-pyridylmethyl)amine carboxylic acid ligands incorporating a range of n-alkyl linkers (CnCOOH, n = 3–5, 7, 10 and 11) have been synthesised. Solution phase studies showed a 1 : 1 coordination stoichiometry between the ligands and M(ClO4)2·6H2O (M = ZnII or CuII) in all cases. The ZnII and CuII complexes were subsequently crystallised by liquid–liquid diffusion and the solid-state structures investigated by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structures obtained are entirely consistent with the 1 : 1 metal–ligand ratio of the solution-phase adducts. However, the coordination geometries and complex topologies are dependent on the alkyl chain length of the ligand CnCOOH. The ZnII and CuII complexes of the short alkyl chain ligands (n ≤ 5) exhibit 1D coordination polymeric structures with somewhat different conformations for {[Zn(C3COO)(H2O)](ClO4)·3.5H2O}n (1), {[Zn(C4COO)(H2O)]4(ClO4)4·1.5H2O}n (2), {[Zn(C5COO)(H2O)](ClO4)}n (3), {[Cu(C3COO)](ClO4)·MeOH}n (4), {[Cu(C4COO)(H2O)]2(ClO4)2·2H2O}n (5) and {[Cu(C5COO)(H2O)](ClO4)·2H2O}n (6). In contrast, the ligands with longer alkyl chains (n ≥ 7) participate in Zn2L2 metallomacrocyclic structures {[Zn(C7COO)(H2O)](ClO4)}2 (7), [Zn2(C10COO)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2·2H2O·MeOH (8) and {[Zn2(C11COO)2(H2O)2][Zn2(C11COO)2](ClO4)4·H2O}n (9). The formation of metallomacrocycles instead of the 1D coordination polymers is a persistent trend and, with identical crystal growth conditions and a non-coordinating anion employed, appears to be an effect of the longer alkyl chain.

The unique surface plasmon resonance of hollow gold nanoshells can be used to achieve drug release from liposomes upon laser stimulation, and adapted to mimic the intricate dynamics of neurotransmission ex vivo in brain preparations. However, to induce a physiological response in vivo requires the degree of temporal precision afforded by laser stimulation, but with a greater depth of penetration through tissue. Here we report that the attachment of hollow gold nanoshells to the surface of robust liposomes results in a construct that is highly sensitive to ultrasonic stimulation. The resulting construct can be remotely triggered by low intensity, therapeutic ultrasound. To our knowledge, this is the first example of nanoparticle-liposome system that can be activated by both laser and acoustic stimulation. The system is capable of encapsulating the neurochemical dopamine, and repeatedly releasing small amounts on-demand in a circulating environment, allowing for precise spatiotemporal control over the release profile. Nanoscale materials hold promising applications for controlled release of bioactive compounds. Here hollow gold nanoshells tethered to liposomes allows the controlled release of encapsulated neurochemicals by acoustic or laser stimulation

Incorporation of an amidine-based switchable surfactant into the lipid membrane of a liposome produces a system that is capable of triggered release upon in situ exposure to CO2. The amount of liposomal contents released is dependent on the concentration of switchable surfactant incorporated. A mechanism of the release is proposed.

Structure-activity studies were performed on the retinal rod outer segment isoprenylated protein methyltransferase that transfers a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) to the carboxyl group of isoprenylated (farnesylated or geranylgeranylated) cysteine residues. This methyltransferase enzyme has been shown to methylate N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-L-cysteine (L-AFC, 1) and S-(farnesyl-3-thio)propionic acid (FTP, 2). It is shown here that the enzyme does not enzymatically process D-AFC (8), although D-AFC (8) is a mixed-type inhibitor of the enzyme

The first structural analysis of a 1,2-disubstituted adamantane, (±)-adamantane-1,2-diyl diacetate, C14H20O4, is reported. The molecules pack in columns which are held together by inter- and intracolumn C—H⋯O interactions.

Structural analysis of trans-3-bromo-2-chloro­indan-1-one, C9H6BrClO, confirms the relative stereochemistry of the Cl and Br atoms.

The structural analysis of the title compound, C15H8ClF5O2, confirms the position of the Cl atom at C-3.

In the title compound, C19H34N+·Br−·H2O, the dihedral angle between the trans-planar alkyl side chain and the pyridinium ring is 52.73 (7)°. In the crystal structure, O—H...Br, C—H...Br and C—H...O hydrogen bonds form a network, while the hydrophobic alkyl chains interdigitate, forming bilayers.