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1. Bis(1‐Methyl‐ ortho ‐Carboranyl)Borane

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202307040  

   Akram, Manjur O.; Tidwell, John R.; Dutton, Jason L.; Martin, Caleb D. (July 2023, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract The Lewis superacid, bis(1‐methyl‐ortho‐carboranyl)borane, is rapidly accessed in two steps. It is a very effective hydroboration reagent capable of B−H addition to alkenes, alkynes, and cyclopropanes. To date, this is the first identified Lewis superacidic secondary borane and most reactive neutral hydroboration reagent. 

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2. Preparation and Reactivity Study of a Versatile Trifluoromethylthiolating Agent: S ‐Trifluoromethyl Trifluoromethanesulfonothioate (TTST)

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202306095  

   Yang, Yuhao; Miraghaee, Seyedesahar; Pace, Renee; Umemoto, Teruo; Hammond, Gerald B. (August 2023, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract A novel, air and thermally stable, yet highly reactive trifluoromethylthiolating reagent, CF 3 SO 2 SCF 3 ( 1 ), was prepared easily in one step from commercially inexpensive CF 3 SO 2 Na and Tf 2 O. 1 is a highly versatile and atom‐efficient reagent that can generate one equivalent of CF 3 S + , two equivalents of CF 3 S − , or a combination of CF 3 S⋅/CF 3 ⋅ species. Many high‐yielding CF 3 S reactions of C , O , S , and N ‐nucleophiles were achieved, including the simple‐step preparations of many reported CF 3 S reagents. 1 delivered a hitherto hard‐to‐synthesize ArOSCF 3 that was followed by a novel CF 3 S II ‐rearrangement. Through Cu or TDAE/Ph 3 P combinations, 1 generated two equivalents of CF 3 S anion species, and the photo‐catalyzed reactions of alkenes with 1 provided CF 3 /CF 3 S‐containing products in high atom‐efficiency. 

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3. Cell lysis via acoustically oscillating sharp edges

   https://doi.org/10.1039/C9LC00498J  

   Wang, Zeyu; Huang, Po-Hsun; Chen, Chuyi; Bachman, Hunter; Zhao, Shuaiguo; Yang, Shujie; Huang, Tony J. (December 2019, Lab on a Chip)

   In this article, we demonstrate an acoustofluidic device for cell lysis using the acoustic streaming effects induced by acoustically oscillating sharp-edged structures. The acoustic streaming locally generates high shear forces that can mechanically rupture cell membranes. With the acoustic-streaming-derived shear forces, our acoustofluidic device can perform cell lysis in a continuous, reagent-free manner, with a lysis efficiency of more than 90% over a range of sample flow rates. We demonstrate that our acoustofluidic lysis device works well on both adherent and non-adherent cells. We also validate it using clinically relevant samples such as red blood cells infected with malarial parasites. Additionally, the unique capability of our acoustofluidic device was demonstrated by performing downstream protein analysis and gene profiling without additional washing steps post-lysis. Our device is simple to fabricate and operate while consuming a relatively low volume of samples. These advantages and other features including the reagent-free nature and controllable lysis efficiency make our platform valuable for many biological and biomedical applications, particularly for the development of point-of-care platforms. 

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4. Germline mutagenesis of Nasonia vitripennis through ovarian delivery of CRISPR‐Cas9 ribonucleoprotein

   https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12663  

   Chaverra‐Rodriguez, D.; Dalla Benetta, E.; Heu, C. C.; Rasgon, J. L.; Ferree, P. M.; Akbari, O. S. (August 2020, Insect Molecular Biology)

   Abstract CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing is a powerful technology to study the genetics of rising model organisms, such as the jewel waspNasonia vitripennis. However, current methods involving embryonic microinjection of CRISPR reagents are challenging. Delivery of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein into female ovaries is an alternative that has only been explored in a small handful of insects, such as mosquitoes, whiteflies and beetles. Here, we developed a simple protocol for germline gene editing by injecting Cas9 ribonucleoprotein in adultN. vitripennisfemales using either ReMOT control (Receptor‐Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo) or BAPC (Branched Amphiphilic Peptide Capsules) as ovary delivery methods. For ReMOT Control we used theDrosophila melanogaster‐derived peptide ‘P2C’ fused to EGFP to visualize the ovary delivery, and fused to Cas9 protein for gene editing of thecinnabargene using saponin as an endosomal escape reagent. For BAPC we optimized the concentrations of protein, sgRNA and the transfection reagent. We demonstrate delivery of protein cargo such as EGFP and Cas9 into developing oocytes via P2C peptide and BAPC. Additionally, somatic and germline gene editing were demonstrated. This approach will greatly facilitate CRISPR‐applied genetic manipulation in this and other rising model organisms. 

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5. Catalytic asymmetric transformations of racemic α-borylmethyl-( E )-crotylboronate via kinetic resolution or enantioconvergent reaction pathways

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d1sc04047b  

   Gao, Shang; Liu, Jiaming; Chen, Ming (October 2021, Chemical Science)

   We report herein catalytic asymmetric transformations of racemic α-borylmethyl-( E )-crotylboronate. The Brønsted acid-catalyzed kinetic resolution–allylboration reaction sequence of the racemic reagent gave ( Z )-δ-hydroxymethyl- anti -homoallylic alcohols with high Z -selectivities and enantioselectivities upon oxidative workup. In parallel, enantioconvergent pathways were utilized to synthesize chiral nonracemic 1,5-diols and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with excellent optical purity. 

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