metathesis

organic chemistry

Also known as: controlled metathesis

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July 16, 2026

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In organic chemistry, metathesis is a chemical reaction where different molecules exchange parts to form new molecules. This process is crucial in various industrial applications, particularly in the petroleum and polymer industries, where it's used to modify organic molecules.1

Organometallic compounds, which contain a metal atom bonded to an organic molecule, often act as catalysts in these reactions. These catalysts can speed up reactions without being consumed. A notable application is in alkene polymerization, where catalysts like those developed by Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta are used to create plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Metalation, another related process, involves introducing a metal atom into an organic molecule or exchanging a hydrogen atom for a metal atom.23

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Yves Chauvin
…Chemistry in 2005 for developing metathesis, an important chemical reaction used in organic chemistry. Chauvin offered a detailed explanation of “how metatheses reactions function and what types of metal compound act as catalysts in the reactions.”
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…Chemistry in 2005 for developing metathesis, an important chemical reaction used in organic chemistry. Chauvin offered a detailed explanation of “how metatheses reactions function and what types of metal compound act as catalysts in the reactions.”
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Robert H. Grubbs
…Chemistry in 2005 for developing metathesis, an important type of chemical reaction used in organic chemistry. Schrock and Grubbs were honoured for their advances in more-effective catalysts based on a mechanism first proposed by Chauvin.
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…Chemistry in 2005 for developing metathesis, an important type of chemical reaction used in organic chemistry. Schrock and Grubbs were honoured for their advances in more-effective catalysts based on a mechanism first proposed by Chauvin.
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Richard R. Schrock
…Chemistry in 2005 for developing metathesis, one of the most important types of chemical reactions used in organic chemistry. Schrock was honoured as “the first to produce an efficient metal-compound catalyst for metathesis.”
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…Chemistry in 2005 for developing metathesis, one of the most important types of chemical reactions used in organic chemistry. Schrock was honoured as “the first to produce an efficient metal-compound catalyst for metathesis.”
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