The herquline family of natural products were originally isolated from penicillium herquei in 1979 by the Ōmura group (see figure below). These strained macrocyclic alkaloids all contain multiple stereocenters, and an unsymmetrically substituted piperazine. Herqulines B and C feature two β,γ-unsaturated cyclohexenones, while herquline A bears an additional pyrrolidine.

The use of metal–hydrogen atom transfer (MHAT) for olefin hydrofunctionalization has received great attention over the last 20 years, primarily due to its enhanced chemoselectivity and regioselectivity.^[1] The Giese reaction, or the addition of a carbon-centered radical into an electron-deficient alkene, is well-known and has been commonly employed for C–C bond formation over the last 40 years.^[2] More recently, the Baran group coupled these two methodologies to establish a powerful tool for the reductive cross-coupling of

Oceans produce one of the largest global natural sources of aerosol in the form of sea spray aerosol (SSA) particles which therefore play a large role in global climate dynamics. SSA particles are enriched in ocean-derived organic compounds, specifically surfactants, which influence the chemical properties of SSA and the potential for SSA particles to become cloud seeds.

With some 150 million objects (including living specimens) in its collection that have been selected for conservation and are available for study, the interests of the Smithsonian Institution fill every niche. Though material analysis is needed to support all manner of research, it may be more important to the museum and other interested parties that rare, precious, or culturally sensitive objects remain un-damaged. Mass spectrometry in its various forms presents a powerful tool, but it is inescapably destructive at some level.