In a scientific breakthrough decades in the making, researchers have finally confirmed a “crazy” theory dating back to 1958 involving vitamin B1, or thiamine. By successfully stabilizing an extremely reactive molecule known as a carbene in water—something scientists long believed to be impossible—this team has not only resolved a long-standing biochemical debate but also unlocked new possibilities for sustainable chemical manufacturing around the world, including Thailand. Their results, published in Science Advances on April 11, 2025, have sparked fresh excitement in both academic and industrial laboratories worldwide (SciTechDaily).
The story begins in 1958, when Columbia University chemist Ronald Breslow first suggested that vitamin B1 might form a fleeting, carbene-like intermediate during essential cellular reactions. Skepticism prevailed in the scientific community due to the extreme instability of carbenes: with only six valence electrons, these molecules tend to break down almost instantly in water, the primary solvent in living cells. For decades, Breslow’s theory went unproven: nature’s “magic” molecule remained unobserved and, to many, unimaginable.
That changed recently when a chemistry team at the University of California, Riverside, led by a professor of chemistry and including an early-career researcher (now at UCLA), developed a strategy to “shield” the unstable carbene molecule from destructive interactions. By synthesizing a protective molecular “suit of armor” around the carbene, the team managed to bottle and observe it remaining stable for several months in water—something previously thought hopeless.
“This is the first time anyone has been able to observe a stable carbene in water. People thought this was a crazy idea. But it turns out, Breslow was right,” explained the project’s supervising chemistry professor (Science Advances, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr9681). The research journey began not as a quest to validate a historical hypothesis but as an open exploration of reactive molecule chemistry. Senior team members admitted that confirming a 67-year-old prediction was a thrilling and unexpected side effect.
Carbenes are invaluable in modern chemistry. Their versatility as ligands—structures that help anchor metals in catalytic processes—means they underpin a vast range of manufacturing steps in creating pharmaceuticals, fuels, plastics, and specialty chemicals. The challenge? Most carbene-based chemistry today relies on toxic, petroleum-derived solvents. The new water-stable carbene holds major promise for “greener” chemistry: water, after all, is the safest, cheapest, and most environmentally friendly solvent available.
“If we can get these powerful catalysts to work in water, that’s a big step toward greener chemistry,” said the project’s first author, now a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA. The implications for pharmaceutical factories and chemical labs everywhere, including in Thailand’s rapidly expanding biosciences sector, could be profound—a shift away from hazardous materials and toward eco-friendly processes that mimic those found in living systems.
Thai scientists and chemical engineers may soon leverage this breakthrough in their own research. Thailand is advancing both pharmaceutical manufacturing and agricultural chemical industries—sectors where sustainable, safe synthesis methods are urgently needed (Thailand Board of Investment). Water-based chemistry could help Thailand’s scientists design new, efficient synthesis routes while lowering the environmental impact traditionally associated with chemical industries.
A professor from one of Thailand’s leading universities, when interviewed for the Bangkok Post, described the development as “exciting for all of Southeast Asia, where green chemistry and low-impact manufacturing have become pivotal national priorities.” The possibility of harnessing water-based reactions for everything from crop protection products to antivirals represents a tantalizing opportunity for Thai innovation.
Beyond the immediate technological benefits, there is a deeper cultural resonance. Thailand’s historical utilization of herbal medicine, rooted in centuries of observation-based knowledge, underscores how visionary insights sometimes take decades, or even longer, to gain scientific acceptance. Much like Breslow’s long-dismissed theory, local knowledge can one day be confirmed and vindicated by modern research tools.
Looking forward, researchers hope that their carbene “suit of armor” approach can be adapted to stabilize other elusive, high-energy intermediates, bringing science even closer to mimicking the complex chemistry inside living cells. As the supervising professor remarked, “There are other reactive intermediates we’ve never been able to isolate, just like this one. Using protective strategies like ours, we may finally be able to see them and learn from them.”
For Thailand’s academic and industrial communities, this breakthrough arrives at a crucial moment. With global competition in green technology intensifying, the ability to implement novel, eco-conscious catalytic processes could become a key differentiator for Thai biotech, chemical, and pharmaceutical exports.
Experts encourage Thai readers in the chemistry, healthcare, and environmental fields to track further developments in water-based catalysis and to consider collaborative opportunities arising from this new knowledge. For younger Thai scientists, the discovery is an inspiring reminder that today’s scientific “impossibilities” may well be tomorrow’s transformative realities. As the study’s first author reflected, “Something that seems impossible today might be possible tomorrow, if we continue to invest in science.”
In practical terms, Thai universities and research institutions are encouraged to explore partnerships with global leaders in carbene chemistry, attend symposiums featuring advances in sustainable catalysis, and seek funding opportunities for projects focused on water-based synthetic processes. The Department of Industrial Works and relevant government authorities should also review emerging best practices from this field to help position Thailand as a regional leader in green and scalable chemical manufacturing.
To stay informed, readers are advised to review the original publication in Science Advances and to follow updates from research teams tackling the next frontiers in biomimetic chemistry. The message from this long-delayed scientific vindication is clear: curiosity, persistence, and innovation often pay off—and can propel both global and Thai science into bold new territory.
Sources: SciTechDaily, Science Advances, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr9681, Thailand Board of Investment