A 100-year-old chemistry rule is proven wrong, textbooks need to be updated.

Since 1924, Bredt’s rule has been authoritative in the field of organic chemistry. This law stipulated that it was impossible to place a double bond at the bridgehead position of a small bridged ring system. Chemists considered this rule inviolable, thus limiting their explorations and creativity.

On the other hand, Professor Neil Garg and his team at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) decided to question this dogma. Their work, published in the prestigious journal Sciencedemonstrate that Bredt’s rule is not as inflexible as previously thought. This discovery challenges a century of conventional wisdom and opens new perspectives for organic chemistry research.

The implications of this development are considerable. It invites scientists to rethink their approaches and explore territories previously considered inaccessible. As Professor Garg points out: “We shouldn’t have rules like this. If we do, they should exist only with the constant reminder that they are guidelines, not absolute rules.”

Anti-Bredt olefins: defying the impossible

At the heart of this scientific revolution are anti-Bredt olefins (ABO). These molecules, which defy Bredt’s rule by exhibiting a double bond at the bridgehead position of a bridged ring system, were considered too unstable to exist. However, Professor Garg’s team managed to generate and use them.

To achieve this, researchers have developed an ingenious approach:

1. Treatment of specific molecules called silyl (pseudo)halides with a fluoride source
2. Designing a reaction to produce the elusive ABO
3. Inclusion of a “trap” chemical to capture these highly unstable molecules

This method allowed scientists to capture and study ABOs long enough to use them in creating valuable new compounds. This technical feat opens the way to numerous potential applications, particularly in the pharmaceutical field.

A new chapter for drug discovery

The ability to generate and use anti-Bredt olefins represents more than just a scientific curiosity. It could revolutionize the discovery of new drugs. Professor Garg explains: “There is a lot of pressure in the pharmaceutical industry to develop chemical reactions that result in three-dimensional structures like ours, because they can be used to discover new drugs.”

Indeed, the unique three-dimensional structures offered by ABOs make it possible to explore a whole new domain of compounds, previously inaccessible. This advance could lead to the discovery of molecules with unprecedented therapeutic properties, thus opening new avenues for the treatment of complex diseases.

Here is an overview of the potential benefits of ABOs in pharmaceutical research:

This discovery reminds us of the importance of questioning established dogmas in science. Just as some rare substances can be invaluable, molecules thought impossible may prove to be the key to future medical advances.

Towards a more creative and daring science

The questioning of Bredt’s rule by Professor Garg’s team perfectly illustrates the importance of creativity and daring in science. This discovery encourages researchers, especially young chemists, to adopt a more flexible and innovative approach in their work.

By showing that ABOs can be generated and trapped efficiently, Garg’s team has laid the foundation for future research that could lead to significant advances in various fields, even beyond medicine. This study reminds us that science is constantly evolving and that what is considered impossible today may well become tomorrow’s breakthrough.

Ultimately, this discovery invites us all to question our assumptions and push the boundaries of our understanding. Who knows what other century-old “rules” are waiting to be rewritten? The next scientific revolution may well be initiated by those who dare to challenge the status quo and explore the unexplored.

Source published on Science.org