UCLA Chemists Discover Phosphorus as Potential Catalyst Replacement for Precious Metals

New light-activated phosphorus compound could revolutionize drug manufacturing and reduce catalytic converter thefts.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have made a breakthrough discovery that could reshape the pharmaceutical and automotive industries. By utilizing light-activated phosphorus compounds, the team has demonstrated the ability to catalyze crucial chemical reactions typically requiring expensive precious metals like platinum, palladium, and iridium. This discovery opens the door to more sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing processes for drugs and potentially reduces the demand for platinum in catalytic converters, which has been a target for theft in recent years.

Why it matters

For decades, the pharmaceutical industry has relied on scarce and costly precious metal catalysts to produce many common drugs. This new phosphorus-based catalyst could significantly lower manufacturing costs and make medicines more affordable. Additionally, the potential to replace platinum in catalytic converters could help curb the rise in catalytic converter thefts, which have become a growing problem in communities across the country.

The details

The UCLA team, led by chemistry professor Abigail Doyle, utilized a light-reactive photocatalyst to activate a phosphine compound, which then facilitated a crucial "hydroamination" reaction. This process effectively couples nitrogen-containing compounds to carbon-carbon double bonds, a fundamental step in creating many pharmaceuticals. Unlike traditional metal catalysts that typically transfer two electrons, the activated phosphine can transfer one or two electrons, opening up possibilities for a wider range of nitrogen-containing compounds to be used in reactions. This unique reactivity pathway could lead to the creation of novel drug structures and more efficient manufacturing processes.

  • The UCLA research was published in the scientific journal Nature in February 2026.

The players

Abigail Doyle

A chemistry professor at the University of California, Los Angeles who led the research team that discovered the potential of phosphorus-based catalysts.

University of California, Los Angeles

The research institution where the breakthrough discovery on phosphorus-based catalysts was made.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Carbon-nitrogen bonds are some of the most important kinds of bonds for drug discovery and manufacturing. Almost all medicines have nitrogen in them, but fixing that nitrogen into molecules is difficult, which is why we use precious transition metal catalysts.”

— Abigail Doyle, Chemistry Professor (Nature)

What’s next

Researchers will need to continue optimizing the process for industrial-scale applications and explore the full range of reactions that can be catalyzed by the activated phosphorus compounds. Successful scaling and further development could lead to significant cost savings and more sustainable manufacturing processes in the pharmaceutical industry.

The takeaway

This discovery of phosphorus-based catalysts represents a significant step towards more affordable and environmentally friendly chemical processes. By leveraging abundant and benign elements like phosphorus, the pharmaceutical industry can reduce its reliance on scarce and expensive precious metals, potentially lowering drug costs and minimizing the environmental impact of drug manufacturing. Additionally, the implications for the automotive industry, particularly in reducing the demand for platinum in catalytic converters, could help curb the rise in catalytic converter thefts.