A recent study from the University of Würzburg has revealed that boron can serve as a viable replacement for toxic and costly heavy metals in various chemical processes. Led by chemistry professor Holger Braunschweig, the research team has demonstrated that boron exhibits “metal-mimetic” properties, allowing it to mimic the reaction behaviors of metals under specific conditions.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Chemistry on September 19, 2025. Braunschweig’s group focused on the ability of boron to form π complexes with olefins, compounds that are critical intermediates in numerous industrial catalytic processes. These complexes share similar properties and behaviors with those formed by transition metals.
“Our discovery opens up a whole new area of the periodic table for π coordination chemistry,” Braunschweig stated. “It includes the possibility of using main group elements as industrial catalysts for functionalisation reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons.”
The successful synthesis of boron-olefin π complexes was achieved by postdoctoral researchers Dr. Maximilian Michel and Dr. Marco Weber. Their innovative approach aims to inspire further exploration of main group chemistry, particularly with boron and other elements in this category.
Braunschweig expressed a long-term vision for the research: “Our main goal is to replace toxic and costly heavy metals in industrial processes with main group elements.” This ambition underscores the potential for significant advancements in sustainable chemistry.
The collaborative effort involved researchers from multiple institutions, including Professor Arumugam Jayaraman from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Professor Alfredo Vargas from the University of Sussex. Funding for this research was provided by the German Research Foundation, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
The next phase for the team will focus on modifying the boron-olefin π complexes to enhance their reactivity, making them even more similar to established metal complexes. This research not only highlights the versatility of boron but also paves the way for a safer and more economical approach to chemical catalysis, with the potential to transform industrial applications.
