At its heart is a specially crafted molecule called the monoprotected amino neutral amide ligand, which helps palladium—a common catalyst—bind to ketones and esters more effectively.

Trimerization of commercially available coprostanone (a steroid ketone with a cis A/B ring junction) by treatment with titanium tetrachloride yields this unusual, chiral, cleft-containing molecule.

Vitamin C molecules can react to form dehydroascorbic acid by losing two hydrogen atoms from the hydroxyl groups attached to the ring part of the molecule, forming two additional ketone (carbonyl ...