Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Richard DiMarchi Indiana University, USA	Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed.
“Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee
Rolf Müller Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany; Saarland University, Germany	Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature.
“The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee

The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.

2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:

• Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University, USA.
  

Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):

• Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
• Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
• Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
• Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
• Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
• Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
• Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.

About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.

We are pleased to share an updated version of the Exceptional Reviewers List 2025. This program was designed to recognize scholars who have delivered consistently exceptional review reports to our journal.

Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting the exchange of knowledge, Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049) acknowledges the significant role that our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2024, 92% of our authors rate the peer-review process as good or excellent, thanks to our excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in the peer-review process of Molecules. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering important feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in April 2024. Every quarter, we will select a group of outstanding reviewers and announce them here.

Q1

Name: Prof. Dr. John Greenman
Affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, UK

Name: Prof. Dr. Dirk Poelman
Affiliation: Department of Solid State Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium

Name: Prof. Dr. Ivo Piantanida
Affiliation: Division for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Croatia

Name: Prof. Dr. Haruhide Mori
Affiliation: Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan

Name: Prof. Dr. Luigi Dei
Affiliation: Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” & CSGI Consortium, University of Florence, Italy

Conference: EPF European Polymer Congress 2025
Date: 22–27 June 2025
Place: Groningen, the Netherlands

We are excited to announce that MDPI journals will participate as exhibitors in the EPF European Polymer Congress 2025, from 22 to 27 June 2025.

With the theme “Polymers for a Sustainable Future”, EPF 2025 promises to be a landmark congress. It will bring together scientists engaged in macromolecular chemistry, polymer science, physics of polymers and polymer materials, modern polymer applications, polymer reaction engineering, rheology and polymer processing, polymer characterization methods and more areas. Special thematic sessions will cover a wide array of topics, including the following:

• Advances in polymer synthesis;
• Green polymer synthesis;
• Supramolecular polymer systems, dynamic networks and vitrimers;
• Polymers for biological, medical and food applications;
• Physics, physical chemistry of polymers;
• Modern characterization techniques;
• Rheology and polymer processing;
• Additive manufacturing;
• Polymer systems for reduced carbon footprint;
• Recycling techniques and design for recycling;
• Nanostructured polymers, composites, blends and soft matter;
• Theory, modeling and AI approaches of polymers and their properties.

The following MDPI journals will be presenting at the conference:

• Polymers;
• Macromol;
• Molecules;
• Polysaccharides;
• Materials;
• IJMS;
• Chemistry;
• Marine Drugs;
• Nanomaterials;
• Colloids and Interfaces;
• Fibers;
• Solids;
• Molbank;
• AppliedChem;
• Compounds.

MDPI is excited to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University to host an engaging Scientific Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in academic publishing. This workshop will delve into the key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing framework, offering an in-depth exploration of journal selection, the editorial workflow, and the essentials of publication ethics. Participants will also gain practical advice on improving their scientific writing and effectively addressing reviewer comments, with guidance from an experienced professional. This session promises to equip attendees with valuable skills to elevate their publishing journey.

Workshop Highlights:

• Learn How to Better Write and Structure a Research Article;
• How to Choose Where to Publish Academic Work;
• How to Respond to Reviewer Comments;
• Reasons for Rejection During Pre-Check;
• How to Navigate Through Ethics and AI Use.

Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

Chemical reactions and catalysis is a fundamental and dynamic field focused on understanding the mechanisms, kinetics, and applications of chemical transformations. This discipline explores how reactants interact to form products, the role of catalysts in accelerating and controlling these processes, and the design of efficient and sustainable reaction pathways. Researchers in this field integrate principles from chemistry, physics, materials science, and engineering to uncover new reactions, optimize catalytic systems, and develop innovative solutions for energy, pharmaceuticals, and industrial processes.

MDPI’s cluster of chemical reactions and catalysis journals is committed to publishing cutting-edge research that advances the understanding of reaction mechanisms, catalytic design, and their practical applications. These journals collaborate to provide the scientific community with the latest discoveries, methodologies, and technological breakthroughs in the field, fostering innovation and sustainability in chemical sciences.

The ten participating journals include the following:

Catalysts (ISSN: 2073-4344) focuses on the study of catalysts and catalyzed reactions, including heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, biocatalysis, and enzymes, with an emphasis on reaction mechanisms, catalyst design, and applications in energy, environment, biomass conversion, organic and polymer chemistry, and other fields. Catalysts is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Keith Hohn (Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, Kansas State University, USA).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts.

Chemistry (ISSN: 2624-8549) focuses on interdisciplinary research across all chemical sciences, with special attention to catalytic processes, reaction mechanisms, and chemical kinetics while bridging fundamental discoveries with applications in energy, materials, and sustainability. Chemistry is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Igor Alabugin (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, USA).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/chemistry.

Electrochem (ISSN: 2673-3293) focuses on fundamental and applied aspects of electrochemical reactions, with particular emphasis on electrocatalytic processes, electrochemical synthesis, and energy-related applications in catalysis and reaction engineering. Electrochem is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Masato Sone (Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/electrochem.

Inorganics (ISSN: 2304-6740) focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of inorganic compounds and materials, with particular emphasis on catalytic processes, reaction mechanisms, and their applications in energy, environment, and biomedicine. Inorganics is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Duncan H. Gregory (School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, UK).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/inorganics.

Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049) focuses on publishing detailed experimental and theoretical research across all areas of chemistry, with particular emphasis on chemical reactions, catalysis, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, physical chemistry, nanochemistry, biochemistry, and interdisciplinary chemical sciences. Molecules is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Schmidt (Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, University of Münster, Germany).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules.

Organics (ISSN: 2673-401X) focuses on advancing the field of organic chemistry through innovative synthetic methodologies, reaction development, and catalytic processes, with particular emphasis on organic synthesis, heterocyclic chemistry, organocatalysis, bioorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and functional organic materials. Organics is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Wim Dehaen (Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven Chem&Tech, Belgium).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/organics.

Oxygen (ISSN: 2673-9801) focuses on the chemical reactivity and catalytic roles of oxygen in redox reactions, oxygen reduction processes, and reactive oxygen species, with applications spanning from chemical transformations to energy-related systems. Oxygen is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. John T. Hancock (School of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, UK).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/oxygen.

Photochem (ISSN: 2673-7256) focuses on photocatalytic and photochemical reaction mechanisms, exploring light-driven transformations for synthetic, environmental, and energy applications. Photochem is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Dirk M. Guldi (Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/photochem.

Reactions (ISSN: 2624-781X) focuses on studies related to reaction chemistry and engineering, covering topics such as reaction mechanisms, kinetics, optimization, catalysis, monitoring, and various types of reaction engineering, including chemical, catalytic, electrochemical, photochemical, environmental, and polymerization processes, as well as reactor modeling and microreactor technology. Reactions is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Dmitry Yu. Murzin (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Finland).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/reactions.

Sustainable Chemistry (ISSN: 2673-4079) focuses on developing green processes and sustainable technologies for chemistry and chemical engineering that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Sustainable Chemistry is led by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Matthew Jones (Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, UK).
Journal webpage: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/suschem.

MDPI’s Mission and Values:
As a pioneer of academic open access publishing, MDPI has been serving the scientific community since 1996. Our aim is to foster scientific exchange in all forms across all disciplines. MDPI's guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles:

• Open Access: All of our content is published in open access and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to science and the latest research, allowing articles to be freely shared and content to be re-used with proper attribution;
• Timeliness and Efficiency: Publishing the latest research through thorough editorial work, ensuring a first decision is provided to authors in under 32 days and papers are published within 7-10 days upon acceptance;
• Simplicity: Offering user-friendly tools and services in one place to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
• High-Quality Service: Supporting scholars and their work by providing a range of options such as journal publication at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and conferences on sciforum.net to make a positive impact on research;
• Flexibility: Adapting and developing new tools and services to meet the changing needs of the research community, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
• Rooted in Sustainability: Ensuring the long-term preservation of published papers and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.

By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices.

Selected Articles:
“Recent Advances in Coke Management for Dry Reforming of Methane over Ni-Based Catalysts”
by Zhenchao Xu and Eun Duck Park
Catalysts 2024, 14(3), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14030176
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/14/3/176

“Systematic Investigation on Surface Diradicals Using Theoretical Models: 2M/MgO and 2M/BaO (M = Cu, Ag, and Au)”
by Kohei Tada, Koki Masuda, Ryohei Kishi and Yasutaka Kitagawa
Chemistry 2024, 6(6), 1572-1592; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry6060095
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8549/6/6/95

“Use of Inner/Outer Sphere Terminology in Electrochemistry—A Hexacyanoferrate II/III Case Study”
by John F. Cassidy, Rafaela C. de Carvalho and Anthony J. Betts
Electrochem 2023, 4(3), 313-349; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem4030022
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3293/4/3/22

“Alkane Elimination Preparation of Heterobimetallic MoAl Tetranuclear and Binuclear Complexes Promoting THF Ring Opening”
by Léon Escomel, Erwann Jeanneau, Chloé Thieuleux and Clément Camp
Inorganics 2024, 12(3), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12030072
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/12/3/72

“Synthesis and Wittig Rearrangement of 3- and 4-Benzyloxyphenylphosphonamidates”
by R. Alan Aitken and Ryan A. Inwood
Organics 2023, 4(1), 59-69; https://doi.org/10.3390/org4010005
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-401X/4/1/5

“Energy Metabolism as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer: The Role of Coenzyme Q10”
by David Mantle, Hannah Rowbottom, Jacob Jones, Indiia Margarita Potts, Nadia Turton, Mollie Dewsbury, Guillermo Lopez-Lluch and Iain P. Hargreaves
Oxygen 2024, 4(2), 122-138; https://doi.org/10.3390/oxygen4020008
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9801/4/2/8

“Photochemistry of β-γ-Unsaturated Spirolactones”
by Werner Fudickar, Melanie Metz, Tobias Krüger-Braunert, Alexandra Kelling, Eric Sperlich, Pablo Wessig and Torsten Linker
Photochem 2023, 3(4), 408-426; https://doi.org/10.3390/photochem3040025
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7256/3/4/25

“Chemical Conversion of Fischer–Tropsch Waxes and Plastic Waste Pyrolysis Condensate to Lubricating Oil and Potential Steam Cracker Feedstocks”
by Philipp Neuner, David Graf, Niklas Netsch, Michael Zeller, Tom-Carlo Herrmann, Dieter Stapf and Reinhard Rauch
Reactions 2022, 3(3), 352-373; https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions3030026
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2624-781X/3/3/26

“Sustainable Technological Applications of Green Carbon Materials”
by Martinho Freitas, Luís Pinto da Silva, Pedro M. S. M. Rodrigues and Joaquim Esteves da Silva
Sustain. Chem. 2024, 5(2), 81-97; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem5020007
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/5/2/7

We are honored to introduce the award committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award, composed of distinguished scientists from around the world whose research covers diverse areas of natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and drug discovery. Their broad expertise and pioneering contributions have significantly advanced medicinal and natural products research.

Through their collective insights, rigorous evaluation, the committee has carefully selected this year’s award recipients, recognizing exceptional achievements in the field.

We sincerely thank these distinguished scholars for their efforts and dedication to upholding the standards of the Tu Youyou Award.  Below is the list of committee members. For more information about the Tu Youyou Award, please visit https://tuyouyouprize.org/. 

Chair:

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn Ohio State University, USA

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes.

Prof. Angelo Fontana University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy	Angelo Fontana is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Italy and serves as Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the National Research Council (CNR). His research focuses on bioactive small molecules derived from marine eukaryotes, with a particular interest on their pharmaceutical applications in immunology and oncology. He also explores their potential as molecular tools for probing and modulating complex biological systems. Prof. Fontana is a co-founder of BioSEArch SRL and has been recognized with numerous grants and honors, including the Apivita Award from the Phytochemical Society of Europe.
Prof. Binghe Wang Georgia State University, USA	Prof. Binghe Wang’s lab works on drug design, drug delivery, click chemistry, chemical biology, new diagnostics, and gaseous signaling molecules such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. His interdisciplinary research supports advances in cancer, infectious diseases, organ protection, inflammation, and other areas.
Dr. Diana Pinto University of Aveiro, Portugal	Dr. Diana Pinto, an Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializes in organic synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, sustainable catalysis (organo-, heterogeneous, and biocatalysis), and natural product research, including isolation, characterization, and total synthesis.
Prof. Hideaki Kakeya Kyoto University, Japan	Prof. Hideaki Kakeya conducts cutting-edge research in chemical biology, high-throughput screening, and biosynthesis of bioactive natural products for system chemotherapy and other therapeutic applications.
Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel University of Strathclyde, UK	Prof. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel heads the Natural Products Metabolomics Group (NPMG), specializing in marine natural products discovery and metabolomics-driven drug development. A recognized expert in bioactive metabolites, she collaborates with industry and academia to address antimicrobial resistance and sustainable bioprospecting. She serves on the Editorial Board of Marine Drugs and holds two patents in the field.
Prof. Thomas Prisinzano University of Kentucky, USA	Prof. Thomas Prisinzano combines medicinal and natural product chemistry to explore neurotransmitter systems and develop treatments for drug abuse and pain. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
Prof. Wei Li University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA	A distinguished professor and Director of the Drug Discovery Center, Prof. Wei Li is also the founder of SEAK Therapeutics, and the 2025 Chair-Elect of the Drug Discovery and Development Division of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). His work focuses on medicinal chemistry and small molecule drug discovery, with over 200 publications and 15 issued US patents.

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Molecules 2024 Most Popular Cover Selection. Each winner will receive CHF 100 and a certificate. The winners are listed below, in no particular order.

	“Enhanced Gallium Extraction Using Silane-Modified Mesoporous Silica Synthesized from Coal Gasification Slag” by Shiqiao Yang, Guixia Fan, Lukuan Ma, Chao Wei, Peng Li, Yijun Cao and Daoguang Teng Molecules 2024, 29(22), 5232; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225232 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5232
	“Advances in Understanding the Antioxidant and Antigenic Properties of Egg-Derived Peptides” by Mihaela Brumă (Călin), Ina Vasilean, Leontina Grigore-Gurgu, Iuliana Banu and Iuliana Aprodu Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1327; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061327 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/6/1327
	“Sea Urchin-like NiCo2O4 Catalyst Activated Peroxymonosulfate for Degradation of Phenol: Performance and Mechanism” by Chunguang Chen, Junkai Zhang, Jia Liu, Jiani Li, Shuo Ma and Aishui Yu Molecules 2024, 29(1), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010152 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/1/152
	“N-Hydroxypiridinedione: A Privileged Heterocycle for Targeting the HBV RNase H” by Dimitrios Moianos, Maria Makri, Georgia-Myrto Prifti, Aristeidis Chiotellis, Alexandros Pappas, Molly E. Woodson, Razia Tajwar, John E. Tavis and Grigoris Zoidis Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2942; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122942 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/12/2942

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Molecules 2024 Young Investigator Award—Dr. Xiaofei Yang.

Dr. Xiaofei Yang is a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. His research is focused on advanced materials for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs), spanning fundamental science, applied nanotechnology, and emerging engineering challenges, unified by the goal of developing and applying novel materials for ASSLBs. Currently, his work emphasizes innovative approaches to synthesizing electrode materials and solid-state electrolytes to overcome key challenges in ASSLB technology. He received his Ph.D. in 2018 and has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed international journals, having more than 30 CN patents. His Scopus Scientific Citation number is 8,627 and his Hirsch index is 48, establishing him as a clear rising star in the field of electrochemistry. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Xiaofei Yang for his outstanding achievements.

As the awardee, Dr. Xiaofei Yang will receive an honorarium of CHF 2000, an offer to publish a paper free of charge before April 2026 in Molecules (ISSN: 1420-3049) after peer review, and an electronic certificate.

We would like to thank all the nominators from various fields of study for their participation and all Award Committee Members for their evaluation of the many excellent nominees.

Molecules Editorial Office

1. “Synthesis of Perfluoroalkylated Pyrazoles from α-Perfluoroalkenylated Aldehydes”
by Lennart Bunnemann, Christian Wulkesch, Victoria Carina Voigt and Constantin Czekelius
Molecules 2024, 29(21), 5034; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29215034
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/21/5034

2. “Serendipitous Conversion of an Acetylamino Dideoxy-Octonic Acid Derivate into a Functionalized Carbohydrate–Pyrazole Conjugate and Investigation of the Method´s General Applicability”
by Jelena K. Berl, Christian Czaschke, Ann-Kathrin Pramor, Christian B. W. Stark and Joachim Thiem
Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4885; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204885
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/20/4885

3. “Nitrosyl and Thionitrosyl Complexes of Technetium and Rhenium and Their Reactions with Hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borates”
by Till Erik Sawallisch, Abdullah Abdulkader, Domenik Nowak, Adelheid Hagenbach and Ulrich Abram
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3865; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163865
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/16/3865

4. “Tuning the Coordination Environment of Ru(II) Complexes with a Tailored Acridine Ligand”
by Ali Awada, Pierre-Henri Lanoë, Christian Philouze, Frédérique Loiseau and Damien Jouvenot
Molecules 2024, 29(15), 3468; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29153468
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/15/3468

5. “Multicomponent Synthesis of New Fluorescent Boron Complexes Derived from 3-Hydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde”
by Viktorija Savickienė, Aurimas Bieliauskas, Sergey Belyakov, Eglė Arbačiauskienė and Algirdas Šačkus
Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3432; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143432
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/14/3432

6. “Desymmetrization of Prochiral N-Pyrazolyl Maleimides via Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Michael Addition with Pyrazolones: Construction of Tri-N-Heterocyclic Scaffolds Bearing Both Central and Axial Chirality”
by Jianqi Geng, Xingfu Wei, Biru He, Yuting Hao, Jingping Qu and Baomin Wang
Molecules 2023, 28(11), 4279; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114279
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/11/4279

7. “A Potential Lead for Insect Growth Regulator: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity Evaluation of Novel Hexacyclic Pyrazolamide Derivatives”
by Bingbo Guo, Biaobiao Jiang, Chunying Wang, Xiaoyu Jin, Liuyang Wang, Zhaokai Yang, Shihui Luo, Qing Yang, Li Zhang and Xinling Yang
Molecules 2023, 28(9), 3741; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093741
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/9/3741

8. “Synthesis of 5,6-Dihydropyrazolo[5,1-a]isoquinolines through Tandem Reaction of C,N-Cyclic Azomethine Imines with α,β-Unsaturated Ketones”
by Young Jae Yun and Sung-Gon Kim
Molecules 2023, 28(9), 3710; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093710
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/9/3710

9. “Recent Developments in Reactions and Catalysis of Protic Pyrazole Complexes”
by Wei-Syuan Lin and Shigeki Kuwata
Molecules 2023, 28(8), 3529; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28083529
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/8/3529

10. “Design and Synthesis of 3-(β-d-Glucopyranosyl)-4-amino/4-guanidino Pyrazole Derivatives and Analysis of Their Glycogen Phosphorylase Inhibitory Potential”
by Sándor Kun, Rachel T. Mathomes, Tibor Docsa, László Somsák and Joseph M. Hayes
Molecules 2023, 28(7), 3005; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073005
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/7/3005

11. “Antimalarial Activity of Tri- and Tetra-Substituted Anilino Pyrazoles”
by Matteo Lusardi, Nicoletta Basilico, Chiara Rotolo, Silvia Parapini and Andrea Spallarossa
Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041712
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/4/1712

12. “Thiophenyl Anilato-Based NIR-Emitting Lanthanide (LnIII = Er, Yb) Dinuclear Complexes”
by Fabio Manna, Mariangela Oggianu, Valentina Mameli, Stefano Lai, Angelica Simbula, Francesco Quochi, Narcis Avarvari and Maria Laura Mercuri
Molecules 2024, 29(23), 5804; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235804
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5804

13. “The Elusive Biological Activity of Scorpionates: A Useful Scaffold for Cancer Therapy?”
by Artem Petrosian, Pedro F. Pinheiro, Ana P. C. Ribeiro, Luísa M. D. R. S. Martins and Gonçalo C. Justino
Molecules 2024, 29(23), 5672; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235672
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