{"id":9379,"date":"2021-02-15T10:48:56","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T10:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=9379"},"modified":"2021-02-15T10:48:56","modified_gmt":"2021-02-15T10:48:56","slug":"st-johns-wort-can-be-used-as-active-catalyst-in-green-chemistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/st-johns-wort-can-be-used-as-active-catalyst-in-green-chemistry\/9379\/","title":{"rendered":"St. John’s Wort can be used as active catalyst in green chemistry"},"content":{"rendered":"
The research groups, led by botanist Professor Stefan Wanke and chemist Professor Jan J Weigand, originally wanted to synthesise graphene-like 2D structures<\/a> from natural products. In order to meet this goal, the team use hypericin, a compound of St. John’s Wort, as a template and starting material. During the investigations, the team discovered that hypericin efficiently catalyses photochemical reactions. Weigand then decided to use the dried flowers of St. John’s Wort, which contains hypericin, as a catalyst in green chemistry applications.<\/p>\n Weigand said: “The chemistry of natural substances and especially the background of botany were completely new to us. The exciting results that came out of it are all the more gratifying. The interdisciplinary project shows how important it is in science to think outside the box.\u201d<\/p>\n