Synthetic strategies overcome Bredt’s rule, unlocking complex bridgehead alkenes
By 
Rupali Dabas2024-11-07T13:47:00
Two research groups propose new synthetic strategies for making ‘impossible’ molecules, defying a 100-year-old bonding rule
Two new approaches enable the synthesis of bridgehead olefins, overcoming long-standing barriers posed by Bredt’s rule, which states that such alkenes are inaccessible due to structural constraints in small-ring systems. The studies highlight how the geometric distortion of these complex olefins can provide access to structurally elusive drug candidates.