New Ways to Create Molecular Rings

A new method of creating molecular rings byautocatalysis has been developed by chemists at University of Geneva (UNIGE). In the conventional technique of catalysis, the molecular rings in the form of steroids, sugars, perfumes or drugs are created by bringing them in contact with another molecule through hydrogen bonding. With this method, creative possibilities are reduced. In the new method, different cycles of of molecules are brought together not through hydrogen bonding but a molecular surface low in de-localised electrons. It provides empty spaces for molecules to assemble and it occurs autocatalytically. In this process, the molecular transformations accelerate on a massive scale. The first molecules transformed help the next one to transform. In normal catalysis, the speed decreases after some time. The new technique will have widespread use in food, medicine and environment in the development of new molecules.