A century-old chemistry rule has been debunked by a team of scientists at UCLA, potentially transforming drug research. Led by Professor Neil Garg, the team challenged Bredt’s rule, which has been a cornerstone of organic chemistry since 1924. Bredt's rule states that double bonds can't form in small, bridged ring structures because they’re too unstable.
Written by Eric Ralls and posted on Earth.com on Wednesday.
However, Garg’s team successfully created molecules known as anti-Bredt olefins (ABOs), defying the rule. By using a special reaction to stabilize these unstable compounds, they proved ABOs can be harnessed for new chemical discoveries, including valuable pharmaceuticals.
This breakthrough encourages a more creative approach to science, urging researchers to question long-standing assumptions.
Garg’s work not only challenges a fundamental principle but also paves the way for innovative developments in chemistry and medicine. As he puts it, “Science is always evolving, and today’s limits may be tomorrow’s breakthroughs.”
