Published in the journal Nature, the research also found a new mechanism associated with the chemical reaction which enables the shape of the compound to be flipped from being right-handed to left-handed by simply adding a common agent in the chemical reaction.

While most alkenes are easy to prepare, a specific type with four different parts - called tetrasubstituted alkenes - are much more challenging but used to make cancer-fighting medicines and natural products like essential oils. The research team therefore aimed to find a more efficient method of making tetrasubstituted alkenes, including Tamoxifen, which allows them to be easily manipulated and adapted into different forms.

The new method offers a highly versatile solution to building complex tetrasubstituted alkenes from simple building blocks.

“The findings change our understanding of the fundamental chemistry of this group of organic molecules," said Professor Varinder Aggarwal, the study's lead author. "It presents exciting implications because the science allows us to make alternatives of the drug Tamoxifen, with potentially greater potency and less unwanted side effects.”

Fellow School of Chemistry researchers Dr Adam Noble and Dr Liang Wei were among the co-authors of the paper, which was a collaboration with colleagues at Colorado State University. The research was funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).