This volume represents one of the two edited by inviting a selection of young researchers participating to the European Young Chemist Award 2010. The other volume concerns the area of Nanotechnology/Material Science and is titled: Molecules at Work. This book contains the contributions of selected young chemists from the field of synthetic chemistry. The contributions are grouped under the three following umbrella topics: Synthetic Methods Catalysis Combinatorial and Chemical Biology This volume is an indispensable read for all organic and inorganic chemists, biochemists, chemists working with/on organometallics, and Ph.D. students in chemistry interested in seeing what tomorrow's chemistry will look like.

Bruno Pignataro, born in Bologna in 1972, is Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Palermo. He received his degree in chemistry in 1995 from the University of Catania and his PhD in materials science five years later. He has helped establish a wide network of international collaborations and organized several scientific activities at national and international level, including coordinating the Young Chemists Group of the Italian Chemical Society and chairing the first three editions of the European Young Chemist Award. Professor Pignataro's group research focus on the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology, molecular electronics, and biotechnology.

PREFACE PART I: Synthetic Methods ELECTROSPRAY AND CRYOSPRAY MASS SPECTROMETRY: FROM SERENDIPITY TO DESIGNED SYNTHESIS OF SUPRAMOLECULAR COORDINATION AND POLYOXOMETALATE CLUSTERS Introduction Background to ESI-MS Application of High-Resolution ESI-MS and CSI-MS toPolyoxometalate Cluster Systems Species Identification and Probing Structural Transformations in Multi-Metallic Systems Future Challenges and Conclusions EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF NATURAL PRODUCTS AIDED BY AUTOMATED SYNTHESIZERS AND MICROREACTORS Efficient Synthesis of Natural Products Aided by Automated Synthesizers Continuous-Flow Synthesis of Vitamin D3 Conclusions CHEMOSELECTIVE REDUCTION OF AMIDES AND IMIDES Introduction Reduction of Tertiary Amides Reduction of Secondary Amides Dehydration of Primary Amides Reduction of Imides Conclusion IONIC OZONIDES - FROM SIMPLE INORGANIC SALTS TO SUPRAMOLECULAR BUILDING BLOCKS The Forgotten Oxygen Anion The Synthesis of Ionic Ozonides The Structural Variety of Ionic Ozonides Magnetic Properties Conclusions and Perspectives CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF AMIDINOUREAS: STRATEGIES FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF ORIGINAL BIOACTIVE HIT COMPOUNDS Amidinoureas: an Introduction Amidinoureas in Chemistry Synthetic Strategies for the Preparation of Amidinoureas Macrocyclic Amidinoureas Perspectives PART II: Catalysis DNA CATALYSTS FOR SYNTHETIC APPLICATIONS IN BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY Introduction In vitro Selection of Deoxyribozymes Scope of DNA-Catalyzed Reactions Synthetic Applications of RNA-Cleaving Deoxyribozymes DNA-Catalyzed Linear Ligation of RNA DNA-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2',5'-Branched Nucleic Acids DNA-Catalyzed Synthesis of Nucleopeptide Conjugates Mechanistic Aspects of DNA Catalysis Conclusions and Outlook IRON-CATALYZED CSP3 - H OXIDATION WITH H2O2: CONVERTING A RADICAL REACTION INTO A SELECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SYNTHETIC TOOL Introduction and Scope Environmentally Benign C - H Oxidation Inspiration from Nature Mechanistic Considerations Bioinspired C - H Oxidation Catalysts Perspectives HYDROGEN BONDS AS AN ALTERNATIVE ACTIVATION Introduction Thiourea Catalysts Conclusions ELECTROSYNTHESIZED STRUCTURED CATALYSTS FOR H2 PRODUCTION Introduction Preparation of Structured Catalysts Electrosynthesis Electrosynthesis of Hydrotalcite-Type Compounds Summary and Outlook MICROKINETIC ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX CHEMICAL PROCESSES AT SURFACES Introduction Time and Length Scales in Heterogeneous Catalysis Hierarchical Multiscale Approach for Microkinetic Model Development Show Case: Microkinetic Analysis of CH4 Partial Oxidation on Rh Conclusions SYNTHETIC POTENTIAL BEHIND GOLD-CATALYZED REDOX PROCESSES Introduction Gold-Catalyzed Reactions Involving Oxygen Functionalities Gold-Catalyzed Reactions Involving Nitrogen Functionalities Gold-Catalyzed Reactions Involving C - C Bond Formation Gold-Catalyzed Reactions Involving Alkene Difunctionalization Gold-Catalyzed Reactions Involving Halogen Functionalities Summary and Outlook TRANSITION-METAL COMPLEXES IN SUPPORTED LIQUID PHASE AND SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS - A BENEFICIAL COMBINATION FOR SELECTIVECONTINUOUS-FLOW CATALYSIS WITH INTEGRATED PRODUCT SEPARATION Strategies for Catalyst Immobilization Using Permanent Separation Barriers Supported Liquid-Phase Catalysts Based on Organic Solvents (SLP) Supported Aqueous-Phase Catalysts (SAP) Supported Ionic Liquid-Phase Catalysts (SILP) Supported Liquid-Phase Catalysts and Supercritical Fluids Conclusion PART III: Combinatorial and Chemical Biology INHIBITING PATHOGENIC PROTEIN AGGREGATION: COMBINATORIAL CHEMISTRY IN COMBATING ALPHA-1 ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY Introduction a1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Targeting the s4A Site with the Peptide Annealing Method Expanding the Molecular Diversity Characterization of the Combinatorially Selected Peptide Conclusion and Outlook SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF MACROCYCLES USING DYNAMIC COMBINATORIAL CHEMISTRY Supramolecular Chemistry Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry Ion Transport across Membranes Mediated by a Dynamic Combinatorial Library TOWARD TOMORROW'S DRUGS: THE SYNTHESIS OF COMPOUND LIBRARIES BY SOLID-PHASE CHEMISTRY Introduction Solid-Phase Synthesis of Selected Privileged Structures Conclusions and Outlook