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Materia’s catalyst technology represents the latest and most significant evolution in the development of olefin metathesis, a fundamental chemical reaction involving the rearrangement of carbon–carbon double bonds, which can be used to couple, cleave, ring-close, ring-open, or polymerize olefinic molecules. Catalysts – substances that facilitate a transformation without being consumed – are indispensable in the manufacturing of countless products throughout the global economy.
Compared with competing traditional synthetic methodologies, Materia’s catalysts typically allow the direct and efficient production of desired molecules with a dramatic decrease in the number of manufacturing steps, the number of byproducts produced, and the quantities of solvents and waste materials which must be treated for recycle or disposal. Furthermore, these technologies allow for the production of molecules and materials that were previously considered difficult targets by traditional processes.
The foundation of Materia’s technology is a family of proprietary olefin metathesis catalysts. Principal among these are Grubbs Catalysts™, developed by Professor Robert H. Grubbs at the California Institute of Technology. The Company’s catalyst collection also features asymmetric metathesis and the technologies of Hoveyda, Nolan, and Piers. Currently Materia’s extensive intellectual property portfolio includes over 350 issued and pending patents (worldwide).
In 2005, the value of Materia’s technology was acknowledged by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences when awarding the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Academy stated “metathesis is an example of how important basic science has been applied for the benefit of man, society, and the environment.”
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