Click chemistry marks 25 years & covalent bonding in the actinides | The chemical breakdown podcast
6/10/202628 min
This week, we look back at how far click chemistry has come in the last 25 years and discuss the strange bonding behaviour of some of the largest elements on the periodic table with Mason Wakley and Frances Briggs.
It started as a review paper in 2001 that has since been cited almost 20,000 times, becoming one of the most influential chemistry papers ever written. Click chemistry has revolutionised the way we build molecules. But what defines a click reaction, and what does the future hold?
And, new research has revealed experimental evidence of how covalent bonding affects the 5f orbital in early actinides. We discuss the challenges of studying these elements.
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First 90 secondsMarianna Kneppers· Host0:00
[gentle music] Last month, click chemistry turned 25 years old, providing a new way to build molecules. But what defines a click reaction and what does the future hold for this field? And new research has revealed experimental evidence of how covalent bonding affects the 5f orbital in early actinides. We discuss the challenges of studying these elements. I'm Marianna Kneppers, Chemistry World's science media producer, and this is The Chemical Breakdown. We'll be diving deeper into these stories shortly, but first, let's take a look at this week's news from the Chemistry World website. High temperatures have been shown to disrupt the function of cellular structures that deliver oxygen to corals. The finding reveals a new stress mechanism linking warming seas to coral death that could help inform decision-makers on where to focus conservation efforts. During his time as US Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sent shockwaves through vaccine research, canceling funding for mRNA research and reshaping scientific priorities. Experts warn that his policies could have lasting consequences for innovation and the nation's preparedness for future pandemics. Chemistry departments in the UK have not yet been impacted