Researchers in Tokyo Metropolitan University developed the efficient method for perfect and selective conversion of polyesters (textiles, cloth wastes, and PET bottle wastes etc.) to raw materials by simply heating a mixture of polyester and alcohol in the presence of iron catalyst. The findings will pave the way for solving the plastic waste problem.

Professor Wen-Bo Liu's research group at Wuhan University reported a nickel-catalyzed regioselective hydrogen metallization/5-exo-trig cyclization reaction. Using β-propargylcyclobutanone as a starting material, multi-substituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanol can be synthesized in one step, followed by skeletal rearrangement to yield 1,2,4-trisubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanone. This structure can be used for diverse derivatization reactions. DFT computational studies elucidated the crucial role of carbonyl coordination in regioselectivity control. This research provides a new method for obtaining structurally diverse bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane (BCH) derivatives, with potential applications in drug development. The article was published as an open access research article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

The recognized researchers encompass various areas including chemistry, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry and more.

In a policy brief published in Science, scientists call on European Union for a new approach to protect people and nature from the hidden risks of chemical cocktails.