Exquisite fragrance from the test tube

A simple synthesis pathway for ambrox, which is found in many perfumes

22-Aug-2024 - The fragrance ambrox, which is contained in many perfumes, can be produced more easily in future. A team from the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and the chemical company BASF has now presented an efficient way of synthesizing the substance. Unlike the chemical process commonly used today, ...

Finely dispersed instead of clumped together

New metal phosphide catalyst developed

12-Jul-2024 - The research group led by Lise Meitner group leader Dr. Constanze Neumann has developed a new type of catalyst that could be of interest to the chemical industry. The scientists have published their findings in the journal "Angewandte Chemie International". Transition metal phosphides have been ...

Safer alternative for an explosive reaction

The chemical industry has been using a reaction with explosive chemicals for over 100 years - now scientists have discovered a safer alternative

29-Apr-2024 - Explosions and poisoning. Serious injuries and even deaths. In the history of the chemical industry there have been repeated accidents, sometimes fatal, often caused by dangerous and explosive chemicals that are required for certain reactions. Aryldiazonium salts, which have been used for 140 ...

Female scientist strives for sustainability in chemical industry

Dr. Özgül Agbaba is on the road to success with her start-up "MechSyn"

04-Apr-2024 - Dr. Özgül Agbaba and her start-up company, which she launched together with colleagues from the MPI für Kohlenforschung, have successfully raised more than 1.26 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Economics' Exist research transfer program. The next exciting phase is now ...

Catalysts from Mülheim get „lazy guys“ going

Aliphatic molecules are important for industry, but usually not very reactive. A new catalyst has changed that

17-Jan-2024 - So-called aliphatic hydrocarbons play a major role in the chemical industry, but are not easy to handle from a scientific point of view. These special molecules form precursors of desired substances in many important reactions - for example in the production of gasoline. However, as they have ...

Thianthrenium chemistry allows for reactivity switch of a nucleophilic amino acid into a versatile intermediate

Useful and broadly applicable tool in the field of chemical biology

03-Jan-2024 - Chemical diversification of proteins is an important concept in the study of biological processes and the complex structures of the proteins themselves. It involves using quick and mild reactions that selectively target a specific amino acid and therefore a building block of proteins. Cysteine is ...

How lab-made catalysts can help to get a grip on difficult greenhouse gases

09-Nov-2023 - Natural gas consists of light hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. Such gases are more potent greenhouse gases than CO2, are constantly released into the atmosphere from natural gas wells, and are more difficult to store than, for example, their corresponding alcohols (methanol and ethanol, ...

Researchers dive deep into bismuth complexes

Chemists publish startling results in “Science”

23-May-2023 - To be able to exploit the advantages of elements and their molecular compounds in a targeted manner, chemists have to develop a fundamental understanding of their properties. In the case of the element bismuth, a team from the Max Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung has now taken an important ...

New Method to synthesize Menthol

A special catalyst enables a “dream reaction”

20-Mar-2023 - Menthol and cannabinoids are important for the chemical industry. A team led by Prof. Benjamin List has now found a new way to synthesize both substances - cheaper and more efficient than before. Our toothpaste contains it, you can find it in cold remedies, and it makes our chewing gum tasty: ...

New Methodology for anti-Markovnikow products

This might be helpful to tackle synthesis problems

23-Feb-2023 - Vladimir Vasilyevich Markovnikov was a 19th century Russian chemist who worked at the universities of St. Petersburg, Odessa and Moscow, among others. The so-called Markovnikov rule, well known already with young students of chemistry, is named after him. This rule says that when protic acids are ...