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A combined effort between the Larsen and Lagarias labs resolved the underlying heterogeneity of the photocycle initiation dynamics of the Cph1 phytochrome photoreceptor that strongly affects kinetics, absorption, fluorescence, and quantum yields (both photochemical and fluorescent) and implicates how structural rearrangements can affects in vivo function.

In a recent publication, Daniel Walters, Xian Powers and others in the Balch/Olmstead group have prepared a novel, photoluminescent molecular cage that is entirely constructed from non-luminescent components.   In its crystalline form, the resulting molecular "box" suspends an anionic guest, a chloride ion, inside.  Crystals of the box change when subject to mechanical force, which causes their rearrangement into an isomeric helicate dimer that uses the original guest as a br

Ganglioside antigens expressed by human cancer cells and are attractive but challenging synthetic targets. In a recent publication, (Chen and coworkers, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2018) describes a highly efficient streamlined chemoenzymatic process for total synthesis of synthetically challenging complex gangliosides.

In a recent publication, (Power and coworkers, Journal of the American Chemistry Society, 2018) describes a C-H Activation by a low-valent tin. EPR measurements indicates the presence of a one-coordinate RE : radical as the intermediate. This shows the first example of a C-H bond metathesis carried out under mild condition by Tin. This new class of low-coordinate tin radical may facilitate further exploration into practical applications of C-H activation by earth-abundant-metal catalysts. 

In a recent publication (Bernard and coworkers, Inorganic Chemistry, 2018) the Kauzlarich lab describes the synthesis and characterization of Ge nanoparticles made in a mixed solvent system. Using NMR, they demonstrated that both solvents are acting as capping ligands and that the solvent ratio impacts the nanoparticle’s crystallinity and size.

More information at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b00334

Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian tisane used in religious and healing ceremonies, contains a complex mixture of psychoactive natural products.  The Olson Lab has recently discovered that N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the principal hallucinogenic alkaloid in this concoction, produces antidepressant effects in rodents and reduces fear in an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  This work highlights the potential for using psychedelics and related compounds for treating neuropsychiatric

The Davis−Beirut reaction is a versatile and robust N–N bond forming heterocyclization reaction for indazole synthesis developed at UC Davis by Prof. Mark J. Kurth and Visiting Prof. Makhluf J. Haddadin.

A combined effort between the Ames, Larsen, and Lagarias labs correlated spectral and photochemical properties underlying the intrinsic heterogeneity of the photoactive red/green cyanobacteriochrome NpR6012g4 from Nostoc punctiforme.

A combined effort between the Larsen, Cramer and Goodin labs characterized direct charge-transfer photodynamics in four iron-sulfur (FeS) proteins with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The labs identified multiple ligand-to-metal charge transfer populations were found to be induced by laser excitation that evolve into low lying charge-transfer states, which is mediated by the density of states and reorganization energy.

A collaboration among several groups in chemistry and physics at UC Davis unraveled a new thermoelectric compound for direct thermal to electrical power generation. This material presents a new structure type and an optimized composition, resulting in remarkable efficiency in the temperature range of important applications, such as solar thermoelectric generators where heat harvested from the sun power the thermoelectric generation device.

The Chen Glyco Group reported a new strategy for the synthesis of complex carbohydrates by designing a chemoenzymatic synthon (PMID: 29349857. Accepted article, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201712022/abstract). The synthon is easily accessible by chemical synthesis.

The research group of Alex Navrotsky recently published a new approach to the transformation of metal organic frameworks (Z. Akimbekov and coworkers, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 7952–7957). The novel mechanochemical synthesis approach overcomes kinetic barriers and unlocks new, more dense phases of increasing thermodynamic stability.