N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), which were first isolated in the early 1990s, have received a great deal of scientific attention as ligands for transition metal complexes and organocatalysts for more ...

Researchers have discovered a 'carbene transfer reaction' pathway using artificial bacteria that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The discovery opens a promising path towards the ...

When the first isolable carbenes were discovered a quarter-century ago, the reactive chemical species were considered laboratory curiosities. Not anymore, according to carbene specialists at the ...

The tetrahydrofuran ring is widely found as a substructure in natural products; a recent review listed in excess of 30 such marine natural products, some of which display interesting antimicrobial, ...

Scientists find new route in bacteria to decarbonize industry. The discovery could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing of fuels, drugs, and chemicals. A research team has engineered ...

A new family of cyclic carbene ligands has been synthesized, expanding the arsenal of these popular ligands and opening a door to homogeneous catalysis of a broader range of chemical reactions. "The ...

Sometimes, serendipity—or just plain luck—still plays a pivotal role in scientific discovery. Recently, a team of chemists were experimenting with using a biocatalytic process to trigger a ...

A research team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and UC Berkeley has engineered bacteria to produce new-to-nature carbon products that could provide a powerful route to ...