Scientists from the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Warsaw, headed by Prof. Dorota Gryko, developed a unique method of conducting chemical reactions in which the so-called the strained reagents were converted into alkyl radicals. This success was possible thanks to the use of a vitamin B12 derivative and a use of the light energy as a reaction catalyst.

The results of these experiments, conducted as part of the TEAM 4/2017 project, funded by the Foundation for Polish Science, were published in the scientific journal Journal of American Chemical Society.

This achievement is opening up completely new possibilities for conducting synthesis of organic compounds in pharmaceutical laboratories. Scientists believe that it will develop new methods for designing and producing innovative drugs.

Currently, toxic industrial catalysts, e.g. heavy metals, are used in the industrial production of organic compounds (e.g. for the needs of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries). The result of their use is progressive environmental pollution. The goal of the project implemented at the Polish Academy of Sciences is to replace toxic catalysts with non-toxic vitamin B12 or its derivatives.