UCLA Chemists Challenge 100-Year-Old Rule in Organic Chemistry

Researchers at UCLA have shown that Bredt's rule, a longstanding guideline in organic chemistry, can be broken, leading to potential advancements in drug development.

UCLA scientists have successfully synthesized anti-Bredt olefins, molecules previously thought impossible due to their instability.
Bredt's rule, established in 1924, stated that double bonds at the bridgehead of bicyclic molecules were too unstable to exist.
The team used a novel chemical approach involving silyl pseudohalides and fluoride to create and stabilize these molecules.
This discovery could revolutionize pharmaceutical research by enabling the creation of complex, three-dimensional molecular structures.
The study, published in Science, underscores the importance of re-evaluating scientific rules that may hinder innovation.