A universal key that can control chemical reactions by changing the properties of molecules as necessary has been developed. The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Molecular Activity and Catalysis Research Team had a joint research with KAIST and developed a new technology that can control the reactivity of molecules by simply applying a voltage.

In order to synthesize chemical substances not only the raw materials react with each other but also the reactivity must be controlled. The part that controls this reactivity is called a functional group. Even substances composed of different atoms show common properties if they have the same functional group. For example alcoholic substances such as methanol and ethanol have a functional group called hydroxy group(OH) in common. They have the characteristics of being soluble in water.

Depending on the functional group the density and arrangement of electrons in the molecule varies which makes the difference in reactivity. In 1937 American chemist Louis Hammett created a formula that quantified the reactivity of a molecule according to the type of introduced functional group. Over the past 80 years this formula has been widely used in the study of predicting the mechanisms of chemical reactions and designing optimal reactions.

However since it is difficult to synthesize a very large number of functional groups one by one and there can be several functional groups in one molecule this method is complex and difficult to utilize. In addition complex molecules are synthesized through several steps and there is a limitation that it is practically impossible to utilize functional groups that can give optimal effects in each step.

The researchers proposed a new way to freely control the reactivity of molecules with a single system instead of several types of functional groups. The system the researchers created is a form of attaching molecules to gold electrodes. When a voltage is applied to the electrode a minute difference occurs in the distribution of electron density in the molecule and through this the reactivity of the molecule is controlled. They also succeeded in controlling various chemical reactions with the development of “universal functional group”.

This study has academic significance in that it came up with a new idea that could simply replace the traditional method of chemical experiment that has been widely used for about 80 years. Beyond the stereotype that one functional group can give only one electrical effect the universal functional group has the advantage of being able to change the reactivity of a molecule even while a chemical reaction is in progress.

Baek Mu-hyeon Vice Researcher of the IBS Molecular Activity and Catalysis Research Group who led the research said By suggesting an inventive idea that can easily control various chemical reactions it will be able to lead various follow-up studies in academia. And he said The follow-up research to develop a universal functional group has been planned.