A recent study by The University of South California Loker
Hydrocarbon Research Institute has changed a idea about the fluorine-containing
trifluoromethyl group. The trifluoromethyl group is used in the making of
products such as Teflon as coating on pots and pans and pharmaceutical drugs
such as Prozac and Celebrex. Before,
scientists believed the trifluoromethanide anion, made in a chemical reaction containing
the trifluoromethyl group, only occurred briefly and was unstable. G. K Surya
Prakash, Karl Christe, and George Olah discovered a way to make the
trifluoromethanide anion survive longer and is stabilized.
The discovery will change the future of chemistry, pharmaceuticals,
agricultural and industrial materials. It broadens the possibility of creating
new organic molecules. This is very important to chemist because the addition
of fluorine into organic molecules is a way of controlling properties such as
the bioactivity of drugs and the operation of plastics and electronic materials.
Source: http://news.usc.edu/69148/new-fluorine-chemistry-research-may-help-in-the-development-of-medicines-and-materials/
Source: http://news.usc.edu/69148/new-fluorine-chemistry-research-may-help-in-the-development-of-medicines-and-materials/
It is so interesting to me that this accidental discovery has become so important. Not only is it used to cover our pots and pans, but one of its most interesting uses is as graft material during surgical procedures. Now that they have found a way to stabilize it, I am sure scientists will be able to do many great things with it, that as you mentioned in your blog will indeed change the future of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
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