After 15 years of research, chemists have successfully developed a new class of catalysts that include the metal ruthenium, that help drive a chemical reaction called “olefin metathesis”.

What sets this new class of catalysts apart is their ability to selectively form products that have a particular geometry – this has proven extremely difficult in the past.

Such catalysts could be used to develop environmentally friendly synthesised chemicals, which could be used in pharmaceuticals and advanced plastics.