"The method allows specific modification of carbon-hydrogen bonds by using ketones as molecular signposts for migrating positive charges."
A team at the University of Vienna, led by chemist Nuno Maulide, has developed a method for controlling chemical reactions using 'cation sampling'. The technique enables the precise modification of carbon-hydrogen (C–H) bonds—a fundamental challenge in synthetic chemistry—by employing ketones as molecular signposts to guide and select migrating positive charges along a molecular chain.
Method Description
Positive charges travel along a molecular chain and are selected by a functional group (ketone) at the desired position. This allows reactions to occur at sites that are otherwise difficult to access. Crucially, the reaction site can be controlled simply by adjusting the reaction temperature, and the method does not require complex transition-metal catalysts.
Significance
Precise C–H bond modification is a key challenge in synthetic chemistry, with broad relevance to drug development, functional materials, and the creation of more efficient chemical processes. This work is part of Maulide's C-HANCE research project, which is funded by an ERC Advanced Grant.
According to Maulide, the method is in early stages but has potential for more efficient and sustainable synthetic chemistry.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.