The new reaction, explained using plastic building bricks: In a single reaction, three (bottom) instead of two (top right) chemical components are linked via carbon-carbon bonds. Follow-up changes can then be made to the molecules using the boron moiety (green)
- WWU/Ludger Tebben
In the current issue of the "Science" magazine, chemists at Münster University present a new approach which for the first time enables three - and not, as previously, two - chemical components to be "coupled" in one single reaction, without any metals to aid the process. The researchers succeeded in producing not only pharmaceutically relevant compounds containing fluorine, but also various γ-lactones. These organic compounds occur widely in various types of fruit and also, for example, as flavouring substances in whisky and cognac. "What is remarkable is that for the reaction process no expensive transition metals are needed as catalysts," says Prof. Armido Studer from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at Münster University, the lead author of the study. This represents an important further development of the classic variant, he says, especially with a view to the increasing relevance of sustainable, environmentally-friendly chemistry - so-called green chemistry. The background: one of the greatest challenges for organic chemists is to create specific bonds between carbon atoms in various chemical components. This is, however, essential for the construction of complex, pharmaceutically active and biologically relevant molecules.
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