Chemists have found a new way to create a group of compounds called allylic phosphorodithioates. This method is quite neat because it doesn't need any extra substances, known as additives, to work. The process involves a clever trick: it uses a substance called P4S10 along with alcohols to transform allylic alcohols into these desired compounds. The whole reaction h...

There is a lot going on beneath our feet. Clay minerals are an important part of the ground we walk on, but they have a big job. They keep the earth stable and healthy. The stability of these minerals is key to understanding how our soil behaves. But there is a mystery. What makes these minerals break down? Scientists have been trying to figure out how cla...

Chemists have discovered a new tool for making reactions easier. This tool helps alcohols react with other molecules in a very controlled way. The new tool is a special chemical pair called an ion-paired reagent. This reagent was inspired by an intermediate step in a well-known reaction called the Mitsunobu reaction. This step is a type of ion that has a positive an...