German students accidentally create molecules chemists sought since 1960s

Two doctoral students at the University of Würzburg discovered stable oxoboranes, which contain a triple bond between boron and oxygen. Their findings emerged while studying reactions with diboracumulene and ketones, producing unexpected yellow and orange solids. The three new compounds can be isolated as crystalline solids and remain stable at room temperature. This breakthrough may allow greater exploration of their properties and reactions beyond previous limitations.