Interweaving Disciplines to Advance Chemistry: Applying Polyoxometalates in Biology

This Viewpoint brings awareness of the challenges and subsequent breakthroughs at the intersection of different disciplines, illustrated by the example of the influence biological entities exerted on a huge class of inorganic coordination compounds, called polyoxometalates (POMs). We highlight the possible effects of biological systems on POMs that need to be considered, thereby emphasizing the depth and complexity of interdisciplinary work. We map POMs' structural, electrochemical, and stability properties in the presence of biomolecules and stress the potential challenges related to inorganic coordination chemistry carried out in biological systems. This Viewpoint shows that new chemistry is available at the intersections between disciplines and aims to guide the community toward a discussion about current as well as future trends in truly interdisciplinary work.

Automated summary

This Viewpoint highlights the challenges and breakthroughs at the intersection of different disciplines, using the example of the influence biological entities have on inorganic coordination compounds like POMs. The article emphasizes the potential effects of biological systems on POMs and the challenges faced in inorganic coordination chemistry within biological systems. It aims to encourage discussion on current and future trends in interdisciplinary work.