Looks like I forgot to share this one. The standard pedagogy for hydration of chloral is that the Cl atoms make the carbon more delta+. We were a bit surprised (initially) to find this isn’t the case. Sorry textbook authors!!!! pubs.acs.org/jceda8/artic...

Rethinking Organic Chemistry: Enhancing Pedagogies to Explain the Relative Reactivity of Aldehydes and Ketones

Abstract. In this work, we explore the structure and charge distribution within carbonyl compounds. It is routine in textbook explanations to attribute the

pubs.acs.org

New paper! In this one we are making a connection that seems obvious in hindsight but doesn’t seem to have been directly made before. @kasimirgregory.bsky.social pubs.acs.org/jceda8/artic...

Exploring the Interface of Hyperconjugation and Polarizability─Enhancing Pedagogies for Charge Stabilization in Organic Chemistry

Abstract. The stabilization of positive and negative charges by alkyl groups (in particular) in organic compounds is often described as polarizability, but

pubs.acs.org

Our fresh look at the inductive effect is out in J. Chem. Educ. This was a really satisfying collaborative effort, and I think you might be surprised by some of the implications. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Rethinking the Nature and Extent of Inductive Effects in Organic Compounds

The inductive effect is generally taught as being transmitted through the σ-bond framework in organic molecules, diminishing with each bond. This historical position does not align with more recent studies, and we show that the inductive effect in neutral molecules is effectively limited to one bond. Evidence of onward transmission (e.g., 13C NMR chemical shifts) should be viewed with scepticism. In charged species, where an electron-donating functional group is coupled with a suitably disposed electron-withdrawing substituent, the effect is transmitted over more bonds. These examples should be considered as polarizability rather than ‘purely’ inductive. Examples that are commonly described as a through-space field effect are better explained by polarizability/orbital perturbation. This work presents a more complete view of the inductive effect and its interface with polarizability.

pubs.acs.org

I live in Wales and today received my Join Us letter from Reform UK, complete with SAE which I posted back to them, immediately, empty. If every other person in Wales did this, Reform would spend over £1.5 million on postage. Not sorry. Join me Cymru.

Here’s a really nice paper from Luis Salvatella on alkyl group electronic effects pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Our thoughts on the teaching of hybridization and how it impacts hyperconjugation have just been published in J. Chem. Ed. If you know organic chemists within the education sector, please share. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

The Interface of Hybridization, Hyperconjugation, and Conformation in Organic Chemistry Teaching

Hybridization is a bonding model, universally used in organic chemistry, which allows consideration of two-electron localized bonds in organic molecules. Without hybridization, it is almost impossible...

pubs.acs.org

Delighted to announce the publication of our work in @nature.com, in collaboration with @nfchilton.bsky.social's group, on a dysprosium compound with magnetic memory at 100 Kelvin. Congrats to all authors inc. @gemmagransbury.bsky.social, @jeffjefftyjeff.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Soft magnetic hysteresis in a dysprosium amide–alkene complex up to 100 kelvin - Nature

A dysprosium amide–alkene complex shows soft magnetic hysteresis loops up to 100 kelvin, arising from the high charge density of the amide ligands and the structural role of the pendant alkene.

nature.com

I’m really honoured to be the 2025 winner of the RSC Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson Prize. Thanks to my current research group, past students and postdocs, and collaborators and mentors who have made this possible @rsc.org #RSCprizes

Different alkyl groups don't have different inductive effects in neutral molecules, which means that they only differ in their ability to stabilize positive and negative charges. pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

Is there a trend in inductive effect for different alkyl groups?

We find there to be no significant difference between the inductive effects of four representative alkyl groups as determined by Hirshfeld charge analysis. The use of alkyl group electronegativity val...

pubs.rsc.org

edu.rsc.org/staffroom/ex...

Exam board issues unprecedented statement about the inductive effect

What implications will this have for the curriculum and for teachers?

edu.rsc.org

Here’s a whimsical blog to kick off my new blog site. I wrote it a couple of years ago, and it’s time to share blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/ocpr/organic...

Ten simple rules for developing good reading habits during graduate school and beyond journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...

Excellent perspective by @lisamjarvis.bsky.social @bloomberg.com on the deep freeze at NIH

Trump's NIH Freeze Puts Scientific Research at Risk

America’s best scientific minds are scrambling to determine the impact of the disruption.

bloomberg.com

As universities begin preparing for the next cycle of REF it's worth digging this out @chemistryworld.com www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/teac...

Teaching-focused staff contribute to REF results too

But are often overlooked in celebrations of research excellence

chemistryworld.com

Great paper here from the group of Edwin Johnson. pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

The inductive effect does not explain electron density in haloacetates: are our textbooks wrong?

The inductive effect is a central concept in chemistry and is often exemplified by the pKa values of acetic acid derivatives. The reduction in pKa is canonically attributed to the reduction in the ele...

pubs.rsc.org

The countdown is on to the release of my book “Onscreen Chemistry” - which tells the story of chemistry/chemists in moving pictures from the very beginning up to the present day, charting all the highs & lows. You can pre-order it here for 12th Feb #Chemistry #SciComm books.rsc.org/books/monogr...

Onscreen Chemistry: The Portrayal of Chemical Science in Film and TV

Lights. Camera. Reaction! How do real world discoveries affect what we see on screen? What impact does the world of film have on how we view chemistry? Are

books.rsc.org

I was already addicted to advocaat but once I started adding lemonade and lime juice it snowballed.

Just to let you know, @craigdcampbell.bsky.social and I got asked many times about this paper at our organic chem admissions interviews. You are now main stream 😍

My little side project for 2025. To highlight 1,000 portraits of #womeninSTEM #womeninscience from all eras, all nationalities and all disciplines. ➡️ @1000womeninstem.bsky.social More info here : aninfinityofhypotheses.wordpress.com/2024/12/09/1...

1000 Women in STEM

Women in science are no longer invisible. There are many resources available, and all you have to do is spend a little time looking to find fascinating information on hundreds of women scientists f…

aninfinityofhypotheses.wordpress.com

every time

#chemsky I’m loving the attention our latest paper has been getting, so I’ve decided to keep ‘Building Skills in Organic Chemistry’ discounted on Kindle for another couple of weeks. amzn.eu/d/6WB8lfx

Someone does a PhD in a subject I don’t understand. They worked hard. That person is female. They probably worked harder and have barriers I don’t understand. But I also have a PhD. How the hell does it diminish me that they have the same qualification? Let’s just be kind to one another!

Danielle L. Schmitt 🔬@schmittwitt.bsky.social · 2y ago

I've started to think a lot about how women like me in academia are being villainized, and how important it is for young women to continue to see examples of what women can accomplish in any sphere, including at home or in the lab. www.vox.com/culture/3894...

I've started to think a lot about how women like me in academia are being villainized, and how important it is for young women to continue to see examples of what women can accomplish in any sphere, including at home or in the lab. www.vox.com/culture/3894...

Why did the internet lose its mind about a woman getting a PhD?

Harassment against women on X has never been worse.

vox.com

Women are under-represented at senior levels in #academia globally, & across all #science 🧪 disciplines, as shown by these "scissor-shaped curves" ✂️ So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality? We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary #WomeninSTEM www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... 🧵 1/

#chemsky our paper is apparently doing quite well rsc.altmetric.com/details/1703...

Report for: Alkyl groups in organic molecules are NOT inductively electron-releasing

In the top 25% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric

rsc.altmetric.com

Tim is a fantastic scientist AND an excellent human being, so this is a great opportunity for someone looking for a PhD right now. 🙄

Tim Easun@timeasun.bsky.social · 2y ago

I see your immediate vacancy and call with one of my own! Immediately available PhD studentship (Home fees & stipend) on a MOF/polymers/neutrons/computational project with ISIS, Cardiff and the Ada Lovelace Centre. Original student unable to start so post re-advertised. #ChemSky spread the word!

Optimist: The cup is half full Pessimist: The cup is half empty Referee 1: Yeah, cups are fine, but can you do it with jars, mugs & glasses? Referee 2: You need to cite these 12 papers showing how to fill things (all ref. 2’s papers) Referee 3: You misspelled ‘container’ on page 6

Chemjobber@chemjobber.bsky.social · 2y ago

Optimist: The cup is half full. Pessimist: The cup is half empty. Chemist: Why are we using Imperial measurements instead of metric?

Optimist: The cup is half full. Pessimist: The cup is half empty. Quantum Chemist: Either way, I'm going to have to do an open-shell calculation on this damned cup

Chemjobber@chemjobber.bsky.social · 2y ago

Optimist: The cup is half full. Pessimist: The cup is half empty. Chemist: Why are we using Imperial measurements instead of metric?

Wishing the Elsevier editors who desk-accepted this all the best for their next career moves. doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...

This!

Debbie Gale Mitchell@heydebigale.bsky.social · 2y ago

Being silly on the ⏰ app this morning #chemsky