A series of manganese and iron porphyrins with sterically protected pockets are shown to be shape selective alkane hydroxylation catalysts. With iodosobenzene as oxidant, good regioselectivity is observed for hydroxylation of alkanes at the least hindered methyl group by using the very sterically hindered (5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2’,4’,6’-triphenylphenyl)porphyrinato)manganese(III) acetate (MnTTPPP...

Achieving the exquisite sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the mammalian ear requires active amplification of input sound. In this issue of Neuron, Dallos and colleagues demonstrate that the molecular motor prestin, which drives shape changes in the soma of mechanosensory hair cells, underlies mechanical feedback mechanisms for sound amplification in mammals.

Frequency-modulated (FM) sweeps are common in vocalizations, including human speech. Selectivity for FM sweep rate and direction is present in the auditory cortex of many species. The present study sought to determine the mechanisms underlying FM sweep selectivity in the auditory cortex of pallid bats. In the pallid bat inferior colliculus (IC), two mechanisms underlie selectivity for FM sweep ...

Faceted platinum nanocrystals supported on carbon nanotubes were prepared using NO2- as a crucial shape-controlling agent. The composites exhibit high electrochemical catalytic activity for oxygen reduction facilitated by the cooperation between the Pt{111} facets and atomic steps, and extremely high selectivity for the oxidation of glycerol to glyceraldehyde.

A flexible organic sheet spontaneously assembled under mild conditions from a tri-carbamate. By introducing cyclohexyl side chains as 'pillars' between the sheets, a hydrogen bonded organic framework was formed which displayed a capacity for accommodating and releasing guest molecules. The guest size/shape selectivity of the lamellar framework was demonstrated by testing with various guests.

A new strategy for the design of a new chromatographic stationary phase via simple modifications of the counter anions in poly(ionic liquid)-grafted silica phase based on ionic self-assembly technology is proposed. The phase with methyl orange dye as counter anions exhibits ultra-high selectivity towards shape-constrained isomers.

A simple colorimetric method with high sensitivity and selectivity was developed for sensing of nitrite as low as 4.0 μM by naked eyes, which is based on etching of gold nanorods accompanied by shape changes in aspect ratios (length/width) and a visible color change from bluish green to red and then to colorless with the increase of nitrite.

Two new Pt(II) squares with quinoxaline-bridges selectively stabilize human telomeric G-quadruplexes with high binding constants (10(7)-10(9) M(-1)) and an unprecedented binding stoichiometric ratio of Pt(II) square/G-quadruplex (6 : 1). This selectivity is likely due to the Pt(II) squares' cube-like shape. Both Pt(II) squares also show significant telomerase inhibition and anticancer efficacy.

Methane trapped in the two distinct dodecahedral cages of the ionic clathrate hydrate of TBAB was studied by single crystal XRD and MD simulation. The relative CH4 occupancies over the cage types were opposite to those of CO2, which illustrates the interplay between the cage symmetry and guest shape and dynamics, and thus the gas selectivity.