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Organic chemistry

Nickel steps towards selectivity

Nature volume 545, pages 35–36 (2017)Cite this article

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Hydrocarbons called alkenes are isolated from petroleum as mixtures of isomers, often making it hard to use them as reagents for synthesis. A reaction involving a migrating nickel atom offers a possible solution. See Letter p.84

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Figure 1: Synthesis of single fatty acids from mixtures of isomeric alkenes.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK

    Matthew Gaunt & Patrick Williamson

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  1. Matthew Gaunt
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  2. Patrick Williamson
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Correspondence to Matthew Gaunt.

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Gaunt, M., Williamson, P. Nickel steps towards selectivity. Nature 545, 35–36 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/545035a

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