Life science firm Sigma-Aldrich has struck an agreement with a leading scientist to market a new palladium-based catalyst.

The company has decided to develop work done by Professor Michael Organ at York University in Canada and to manufacture rand commercialise the new Pyridine-Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation (PEPPSI)-IPr catalyst.

Professor Organ's catalyst, which incorporates palladium, offer more efficient and superior functional group tolerance, outperforming existing catalysts used in a range of industrial reactions, with Sigma keen to exploit the new technology.

"Sigma-Aldrich is proud to offer gram to bulk quantities of the PEPPSI-IPr catalyst, with the development work being jointly executed by Aldrich R&D and Organ team scientists," said Sigma-Aldrich product manager for catalysis Aaron Maestri.

"The catalyst's efficient mediation of C-C and C-N bond-forming processes, robust stability and competitive cost structure make it attractive for widespread application in the global research and fine chemical arena."

Sigma says the catalyst will add to its portfolio of agents, which include the Grubbs' Nobel prize-winning metathesis technology.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd