In this week’s Review, J. Kopeček and J. Yang discuss how smart biomaterials can be obtained through self-assembly of hybrid hydrogels. How similar are the designs of biomaterials and nanomedicines? In a Minireview, P. Dauban et al. ask whether nitrene chemistry is still in its infancy. The Highlights deal with biofuel cells (U. Schröder) and the Jahn–Teller distortion of hydrocarbon cations (M. E. Crestoni and S. Fornarini). In an Essay, H. B. Kagan introduces the Chemistry Nobel Laureates of 1912: Victor Grignard and Paul Sabatier. In an Editorial, R. N. Zare shares his views on the assessment of academic researchers.

In the Communications section, S.-H. Yu et al. describe how to rapidly obtain macroscale ordered ultrathin telluride nanowire films and tellurium/telluride hetero-nanowire films by using reactive templates. K. Sakai et al. present an artificial photosynthesis that is catalyzed by a platinum(II)-based metalloviologen (PV²⁺). J.-L. Pernodet et al. demonstrate that the biosynthetic pathway of congocidine starts with the carbohydrate N-acetylglucosamine and involves carbohydrate-processing enzymes. P. S. Baran succeeded in the total synthesis of a proposed structure of pipercyclobutanamide A by sequential C–H arylation and olefination.

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• Angewandte issue: No Longer in Its Infancy,
  Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51(30).