Chemical protection (either temporary or permanent) is an essential tool for synthetic chemists, which involves blocking reactive sites on a molecule through covalent bonds. Miguel Soto, a CREATE NanoMat postdoc In the MacLachlan lab, has developed new protection approaches that rely on pure physical shielding. Recently, Dr. Soto has protected a redox-active molecule from heterogeneous reduction using physical shield (a macrocycle). This protecting unit stays in place and operates thanks to two flanking barriers (other macrocycles!) that are mechanical stoppers. Judicious selection of...