A Gratifying Year with Even Brighter Forecast

Dear Reader, It is with great fulfillment that we look back at the past year and see the great achievements of this journal, particularly within the 5 years with Wiley-VCH. The IJC has already become a major player in the arena of chemistry journals and its future looks even brighter. The recently completed Volume 55 (2015) gives me much satisfaction concerning the high quality of contributed articles and diversity of topics (Figure 1). As was the case with previous years, this volume features highly timely and unique special issues, two of which were dedicated to outstanding scientists on happy circumstances. The journal has maintained its international stature, high reputation, respectable impact factor, as well as growing enthusiasm, confidence and pride among the Guest Editors and invited authors. Cover art of the IJC issues published in 2015. Issue 1 on Artificial Metalloenzymes, edited by Takafumi Ueno (Tokyo Institute of Technology), reflects the rise of nanotechnology at the interface of biology and materials science. Until recently, bioinorganic chemistry focused on fundamental understanding and reconstruction of metal-binding sites in natural metalloproteins as well as elucidation of their mechanism of action. This focus has shifted to manipulating proteins with metals to change their function. In particular, the design of artificial metalloenzymes has grown to an important topic in biology and chemistry due to their potential applications in nanoscience and biotechnology. Because this methodology provides a powerful tool for generating new catalysts with high activity and selectivity, the range of applications has been extended in pursuit of additional sophisticated and complex enzymatic systems with protein assemblies as employed by nature in complex machinery, such as photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. This special issue focuses on artificial metalloenzymes that would lead to novel bioinorganic chemistry and biomaterials. Issue 2 on Frustrated Lewis Pairs, edited by Doug Stephan (University of Toronto) and Gerhard Erker (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster), highlights the dramatic growth in the areas impacted by the concept and chemistry of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs). While the use of FLPs in stoichiometric and catalytic hydrogenations of imines was the first application to emerge, the development of such metal-free hydrogenations continues to grow with a broadening substrate scope, catalyst designs and selectivities. Substrates where such metal free reductions are possible include imines, enamines, silylenol ethers, enones, anilines, N-heterocycles, ketones and aldehydes. While a variety of electrophilic boranes continue to be exploited as catalysts, borenium cations as well as carbon-based electrophiles have been shown to be viable as well. Regio- and enantio-selective catalysts have also emerged, auguring well for potential in commercial applications. Concurrent with this rapid expansion of metal-free hydrogenation, theoretical and experimental studies continue to provide deeper insight into the mechanism of action of FLPs. Issue 3–4 on Carbohydrates: Special Issue in Honor of the 2014 Wolf Prize Laureate in Chemistry, Professor Chi-Huey Wong, was edited by Timor Baasov (Technion), Micha Fridman (Tel Aviv University) and Daniel B. Werz (Technical University of Braunschweig). The prize was awarded to Prof. Wong for pioneering the development of programmable chemical and enzymatic synthesis methods that enable the previously impossible or infeasible synthesis and study of classes of compounds, especially complex carbohydrates, glycoproteins and related substances, which are vitally important in biology and medicine. Accordingly, this double issue highlights the rich science of glycobiochemistry, including inhibitors of carbohydrate processing enzymes, carbohydrates bio-synthesis, immunologically active glycopeptides and sugar mimetics, carbohydrate chemistry, glycosylation methodologies, oligosaccharide synthesis, carbohydrate protecting group, chemical transformations of sugar scaffolds, synthetic methodologies, glycoprotein synthesis, probes representing bacterial oligosaccharides, fluorescent probes, relevant analytical methods, carbohydrate binding proteins, etc. Issue 5 on Next Generation Batteries: Systems and Materials, edited by Kyu Tae Lee (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology), reflects the increasing demand for advanced energy devices, which is motivated by a variety of applications such as electric vehicles and smart grids, all are urgently required to reduce environmental pollution by petroleum-based solutions. Promising energy devices are based on lithium ion batteries for electrochemical energy storage. However, the performance of present commercialized lithium ion batteries does not meet the demands of those new applications in terms of energy density, safety and cost per energy. Therefore, breakthrough technologies focusing on new electrochemical energy storage systems or materials should be introduced to exceed the performance of the currently used batteries. In addition to the above listed challenges there is need to gain better understanding of the reaction and failure mechanisms of the next generation batteries for the deliberate design of new materials and electrochemical systems, all addressed by this special issue. Issue 6–7 on Functional Peptide and Protein Nanostructures, edited by Nurit Ashkenasy (Ben-Gurion University) and Joel Schneider (National Cancer Institute, NIH), turns attention to the self-assembly of peptides into functional nanostructures. The research on self-assembly has been mainly motivated by the desire to understand the role of this process and the resulting structures in neurodegenerative diseases. After years of intensive research, scientists are now able to rationally design polypeptide-based nanostructures de novo or by engineering naturally derived systems with high confidence. As described by this double issue, these studies employ a variety of strategies, and cover a wide range of synthetic as well as biological materials. Issue 8 on Origin of Life: Special Issue Honoring Prof. Albert Eschenmoser on the Occasion of his 90th Birthday, edited by Gonen Ashkenasy and Addy Pross (both of Ben-Gurion University), focuses on the Origin of Life (OoL), one of the most challenging and tantalizing scientific questions of all time. The conventional wisdom is that life on earth emerged from inanimate matter some 3.5 to 4 billion years ago. However, both the process and the mechanistic path by which such a remarkable transformation took place remain highly contentious. From what molecular precursors did the transformation begin? How was such a transition at all possible? This special issue is dedicated to reviewing recent advances in the field, both experimental and theoretical. The issue is dedicated to Prof. Albert Eschenmoser, who, in addition to his landmark contributions to organic synthesis in the broadest sense, also made highly significant contributions to the OoL field, including the chemical etiology of nucleic acids, discovering novel synthetic pathways to simple sugars, and recognizing the fundamental idea that the OoL process required the establishment of a chemical environment held far from equilibrium by kinetic barriers. Issue 9 on Progress in the Next Generation Non-silicon Thin Film Solar Cells, edited by Jae-Joon Lee (Konkuk University), Do-Hoon Hwang (Pusan National University) and Hwan Kyu Kim (Korea University), focuses on the huge progress concomitantly in the field of sensitization-based solar cells and the purely organic based thin layer hetero-junction type solar cells. These cells have been continuously evolving toward higher efficiency via novel strategies of efficient organic/inorganic absorbers and electron/hole conductors, as well as well-ordered nanostructure of photoelectrodes and highly catalytic and economical counter electrodes. This research encompassed the use of many inorganic quantum dots as sensitizers, which led to significant efficiency jump in solid-state solar cells. The recent reports of highly efficient perovskite solar cells have opened a new chapter in the next generation solar cell area, while much of the pioneering research has been carried out in Korea. This special issue was designed to encompass the recent progress and state of the art research by leading Korean scientists in the area of sensitization-based solar cells and organic solar cells. Issue 10 on Progress in Low Cost and High Efficiency Silicon and Inorganic Semiconductor Solar Cells, edited by Junsin Yi (Sungkyunkwan), Jae Ho Yun (Korea Institute of Energy Research) and Hwan Kyu Kim (Korea University), highlights the global efforts towards sustainable growth and low-carbon society through photovoltaic solar cells, which can address the increasing energy requirements, climate change, and global warming problems. The currently used photovoltaic technologies are far from satisfactory due to multiple difficulties with raw materials and cell over-supply to the global economy. A challenging and stable growth in the photovoltaic market is expected to depend on high efficiencies at low cost in large volumes. The keys to reaching these goals include the reduction in material consumption and the use of low-cost materials at cell and module level while maintaining the high efficiency, and adopting new, reliable technologies. Major investments in solar cells research in both academia and industry, which led to technical breakthroughs over the last decade. Many of the articles in this issue were presented during the Global Photovoltaic Conference at Busan, Korea, in November 2014. Issue 11–12 on 50-Years Germany-Israel Relations, edited by Ehud Keinan, Charles Diesendruck (Technion) and Manfred Reetz (Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung), celebrates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany, which represents a significant milestone in human history, far beyond the relevance to the two countries. There are two major lessons everyone should take from the special relations that have developed between the two nations. The first lesson is that coming to terms with the past (Vergangenheitsbewältigung) is not only necessary for true reconciliation, but also essential for ensuring human dignity and personal liberty. Israel and Germany were successful in proceeding through a highly intellectual, emotional and painful process of truth seeking and reconciliation. This experience may serve as a guide for other human societies in order to assure a better world for future generations. The second lesson stems from the fact that scientific, technological, and cultural links between Germany and Israel preceded and catalyzed the establishment of the formal diplomatic relations. Thus, scientists around the world can advance humanity by multiple ways, far beyond their obvious contribution to science and technology. Table 1 lists the most-cited articles from 2012–2013, the period that influenced the 2014 Impact Factor. We've also compiled highly accessed articles in 2015 (Table 2). This list contains articles from 2015 but also from previous years, indicating that the IJC issues are being intensively read over a 3-year period after publication. These lists are available on the IJC homepage (www.ijc.wiley-vch.de), behind the Most-Cited and Most-Accessed links. Authors Titles Ref. K. Matyjaszewski Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: From Mechanisms to Applications 2012, 52, 206–220 M. B. Wilker, K. J. Schnitzenbaumer, G. Dukovic Recent Progress in Photocatalysis Mediated by Colloidal II–VI Nanocrystals 2012, 52, 1002–1015 A. L. Routzahn, S. L. White, L.-K. Fong, P. K. Jain Plasmonics with Doped Quantum Dots 2012, 52, 983–991 C. G. Hardy, L. Ren, J. Zhang, C. Tang Side-Chain Metallocene-Containing Polymers by Living and Controlled Polymerizations 2012, 52, 230–245 E. D. Głowacki, G. Voss, L. Leonat, M. Irimia-Vladu, S. Bauer, N. S. Sariciftci Indigo and Tyrian Purple – From Ancient Natural Dyes to Modern Organic Semiconductors 2012, 52, 540–551 G. Celniker, G. Nimrod, H. Ashkenazy, F. Glaser, E. Martz, I. Mayrose, T. Pupko, N. Ben-Tal ConSurf: Using Evolutionary Data to Raise Testable Hypotheses about Protein Function 2013, 53, 199–206 R. M. Hanson, J. Prilusky, Z. Renjian, T. Nakane, J. L. Sussman JSmol and the Next-Generation Web-Based Representation of 3D Molecular Structure as Applied to Proteopedia 2013, 53, 207–216 M. Mahlau, B. List Asymmetric Counteranion-Directed Catalysis (ACDC): A Remarkably General Approach to Enantioselective Synthesis 2012, 52, 630–638 S. Kutsumizu Recent Progress in the Synthesis and Structural Clarification of Thermotropic Cubic Phases 2012, 52, 844–853 G. J. Rowlands Planar Chiral Phosphines Derived from [2.2]Paracyclophane 2012, 52, 60–75 Authors Titles Ref. J.-P. Jones, G. K. S. Prakash, G. A. Olah Electrochemical CO2 Reduction: Recent Advances and Current Trends 2014, 54, 1451 S. Shaik A Tale of Two Mounts: The History of Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem 2015, 55, 781 C. Bommier, X. Ji Recent Development on Anodes for Na-Ion Batteries 2015, 55, 486 S. Walspurger, W. G. Haije, B. Louis CO2 Reduction to Substitute Natural Gas: Toward a Global Low Carbon Energy System 2014, 54, 1432 E. Keinan Framework Agreement for Collaboration between the Chemical Societies of Spain and Israel, Expoquimia, October 2, 2014, Barcelona 2015, 55, 114 A. Ilie, M. T. Reetz Directed Evolution of Artificial Metalloenzymes 2015, 55, 51 Y. S. Jung, D. Y. Oh, Y. J. Nam, K. H. Park Issues and Challenges for Bulk-Type All-Solid-State Rechargeable Lithium Batteries using Sulfide Solid Electrolytes 2015, 55, 472 G. Markovich The School of Chemistry at Tel Aviv University Celebrates Its 50th Jubilee 2015, 55, 102 C. Marchi-Delapierre, L. Rondot, C. Cavazza, S. Ménage Oxidation Catalysis by Rationally Designed Artificial Metalloenzymes 2015, 55, 61 H. Inaba, S. Kitagawa, T. Ueno Protein Needles as Molecular Templates for Artificial Metalloenzymes 2015, 55, 40 In addition to the scientific content, the IJC, serving as the official journal of the Israel Chemical Society, covered other significant topics, such as Conference Reports on the Framework Agreement for Collaboration between the Chemical Societies of Spain and Israel,1 and the 80th Annual Meeting of the Israel Chemical Society.2 We have also continued the important series of Institute Spotlights, aiming at comprehensive coverage of all chemistry departments in the research universities of the State of Israel. This year we covered the School of Chemistry at Tel Aviv University on the occasion of it 50th Jubilee,3 and the History of Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.4 An interesting Essay on Chaim Weizmann as a Scientist was contributed by Zvi Rappoport.5 Several exciting features are planned for Volume 56 (2016), including Rosarium Philosophorum on Structural Chemistry, Controlled Nanocrystal Growth, Quorum Sensing and Chemical Communication between Species, Self-Assembly of Biomolecules, Computational Science of Inorganic Nanostructures, New Frontiers in Bioinorganic Chemistry, Chemistry of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes and Cyclobutanes, as well as a special issue honoring the Chemistry Wolf Prize Laureates. Finally, I wish to point out that none of these achievements could be possible without the dedicated work of all Guest Editors, the well-selected contributing authors and referees, members of the Editorial Board and the International Advisory Board and, in particular, the Publisher, Dr. Brian Johnson and the publishing experts at Wiley-VCH, including Editorial Director, Dr. Carina S. Kniep; Editorial Assistant Josefa Fernández; Production Manager Denis Ott; Marketing Manager Monika Silz; and Marketing Executive Gabriela Kraft. I wish you an enjoyable year of stimulating reading, 1 Ehud Keinan Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Récupéré en direct depuis OpenAlex et désinversé. Les résumés ne sont pas conservés dans cette base de données : les index inversés représentent 8,6 Go des 9,3 Go de texte de la base, et le serveur dispose de 13 Go libres.