Scientists at the University of Würzburg discover new boron-carbon bonds!

Scientists at the University of Würzburg discover new boron-carbon bonds!

A research team from University of Würzburg has made significant progress in chemistry. For the first time, it was possible to synthesize a triple bond between boron and carbon. This discovery could have far-reaching implications for basic research and the chemical industry. Before this milestone, triple bonds were already known in chemistry for other elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, but a documented bond between boron and carbon has not yet been documented.

Professor Holger Braunschweig's team managed to create a molecule with this innovative boron-carbon triple bond, known as borin. This molecule crystallizes at room temperature as an orange solid and shows a linear arrangement of one boron atom and two carbon atoms. With this constellation, the boron atom finds itself in an “uncomfortable situation,” which opens up exciting perspectives for the reactivity and possible uses of the molecule.

Reactivity and Applications of Borin

The research team has already carried out reactivity studies of borin, the results of which have been published in the scientific journalNature Synthesiswere published. The publication entitled “The synthesis of a neutral boryne” was published on March 4, 2025. The discovery of borine inspires other researchers to synthesize unlikely chemical compounds, which could pave the way for potentially groundbreaking applications. An example of such surprising discoveries is Teflon or superglue, which were created through innovative processes.

Professor Braunschweig's team continues to work on the reactivity of the molecule and investigates how this novel compound can provide innovative tools for chemical synthesis. This could well have far-reaching results in the chemical industry and beyond.

Funding for boron-organic compounds

Another notable research in this area comes from Dr. John J. Molloy, who on Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces Research is active. Dr. Molloy received an ERC Starting Grant of €1.5 million to fund a project called LUMIBOR. The aim of this project is to develop 3D organoboron compounds that are activated by light.

The hybridization of boron could serve as a key to controlling chemical reactions. The planned molecules are intended to provide versatile building blocks for basic research as well as industrial applications. Furthermore, the new project will also investigate the properties of boron in organic molecules, which are particularly promising in drug development, such as in the cancer treatment with bortezomib.

Dr. Molloy envisions interdisciplinary collaboration and plans to assemble a team of graduate students and postdocs to further advance the research goals. The ERC funding he has just received will enable him to work closely with theorists and experts in X-ray crystallography.

In summary, recent advances in research and the increasing importance of boron in chemistry not only produce innovative compounds, but also offer new perspectives for industry and medical research.