Natural products chemistry in the 21st century is central to studies across multiple disciplines and branches within those disciplines. This research front contains a selection of papers that showcase current research in natural products chemistry.

The genetics underpinning the biosynthesis of microbial natural products is so well understood that some pathways and indeed their natural products may be predicted from DNA sequences alone. Mining of microbial genomes for biosynthesis genes is now seen as a viable platform for natural products discovery and this account overviews some of our research in this field.

Aplytandiene-3 and six new metabolites with ‘gracilin’-type carbon skeletons are isolated from Goniobranchus splendidus. The structure of gracilin G is revised and a C-6 configuration deduced by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Goniobranchus daphne yields a lactone with a rearranged spongionellin-type skeleton. Selected isolated metabolites are cytotoxic against a HeLa S3 cell line.

In Australia, Litsea glutinosa is an important plant used in the traditional medicine system of the Kuuku I’yu (Northern Kaanju) people in the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Here, we report the cytotoxicity of crude extracts and four aporphine alkaloids isolated from the leaves of L. glutinosa against a panel of human cancer cell lines.

A novel Australian fungus, Aspergillus kumbius FRR6049, yielded three new bis-indolyl benzenoids, kumbicins A–C, and a new bis-indolyl benzoquinone, kumbicin D.

Chemical investigation of a traditional Australian Aboriginal medicine revealed that the plant used was the toxic shrub, Myoporum montanum, but that the method of preparation plays a role in reducing the toxicity of the extract.

Acalypha indica has a long history of medicinal use and the roots of this plant are known to have a peculiar effect on cats. In this study, we identify two iridoids, (4R,4aR,7S,7aR)-isodihydronepetalactone (4) and (4R,4aS,7S,7aR)-isoiridomyrmecin (6), that are emitted by the roots of this plant and are likely to be responsible for this cat effect.

The water solubility, anti-oxidant activity and anti-cancer activity of LU were significantly increased in the inclusion complex with polyamine-β-cyclodextrin. The LU/CDs complex will be useful for its application as herbal medicine or healthcare product.

Carbon-doped hollow anatase spheres, prepared in situ by directly carbonizing cationic polystyrene templates, exhibit outstanding capacitor performances compared to that of undoped P25.

Keratin has a wide variety of sources, is inexpensive and abundant in nature. This paper describes a simple and efficient enzymatic digestion method to pig hair keratin. A type of pH-sensitive keratin-based biopolymer hydrogel with excellent swelling properties and pH-sensitive drug release properties was prepared.

A new and efficient covalent thioamidation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) consisting of a direct nucleophilic addition of calcium thiolate to the sidewalls of the tubes has been developed for the first time.

Capitalizing on the large loading capacity, biocompatibility and bioresorbability of porous silicon, films for the controlled delivery of the prohormone levothyroxine were fabricated. Amine functionalization of the films increased loading capacity by 50 % and sustained drug release under physiological conditions for 14 days. ELISA based release confirmed that levothyroxine was not deactivated or degraded.

Uniform 3D hierarchical BiOI nanoflowers were developed via a facile solvothermal method. The obtained BiOI sample presents favourable recycling characteristics for mixed organic dye photodegradation, thereby presenting significant potential for practical wastewater treatment.

Mesoporous tin oxide-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (SnO₂-rGO) is prepared through a simple hydrothermal method. A subsequent study reveals that SnO₂-rGO film-modified electrode exhibits excellent sensitivity and reproducibility for the ultrasensitive detection of guaiacol in red wine samples.

This paper describes the synthesis of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate [EMIM][EtSO₄] and its application in supported form (SILPOC) for the synthesis of piperidinones and pyrimidinones.

Herein, we report a mild and simple method to synthesize sulfonyldiazomethanes and acetyldiazomethanes though neutral alumina-catalyzed decarboxylation of diazosulfonyl acetates.