The Strem Catalog Advantage: Why Chemical Purity and Consistency Matters in Academic Research

Chemical Purity and Quality: The Lifeblood of Academic Research

A cross-coupling reaction without using palladium (Pd)? A paper published in Nature Catalysis in January 2021 by a group of synthetic chemists led by Hua-Jian Xu seemed almost too good to be true.

Xu's team claimed that they had performed a metal-free Suzuki reaction as a way to form new carbon-carbon bonds. Organic chemists had long tried to achieve cross-coupling variations without using Pd or another transition metal as a catalyst. Some found that nickel- or iron-based catalysts, which are cheaper and not potentially toxic, could be used instead of Pd, but not as effectively. Xu’s team, it appeared, had uncovered the key to this long-theorized option.

They had purportedly substituted a simple amine catalyst for Pd to perform the reaction. But the academic community remained skeptical, and three groups of organic chemists set out to test the validity of Xu’s hypothesis. In their papers (see here, here and here) each found that—while Xu’s team had taken the right measures to remove metal contaminants—the original study had used a phosphine ligand for amine synthesis. They concluded that trace levels of Pd contaminated the process—enough to catalyze the Suzuki reaction, but not enough to appear on the ICP-MS analysis.

While the method was reproducible, it wasn’t possible to prepare the amine without some Pd. Xu’s team was forced to retract their paper.

This is a classic example of how, in academic research, using high-purity chemicals is essential to consistent, valid, and reproducible research results. Considering the reactions that even trace levels of Pd are capable of, it’s important that customers are aware of what they are purchasing to understand the quality, testing and specifications for any chemicals.

At the Strem Catalog, we sell a wide variety of specialty chemicals. We pride ourselves on quality and are committed to meeting our specifications so customers can be confident in the chemicals they are receiving every day. Being a trusted and reliable partner is core to our values as a high-quality chemical supplier.

How Strem Catalog Controls for Variables in Chemical Products

While researchers can control for most variables within their own labs, chemical purity is ultimately out of their hands. Academic research chemists must be able to trust that their suppliers’ storage, production, packaging, and shipping practices align with industry best practices and regulatory guidance to avoid the scenario outlined above.

Getting it right takes significant attention to detail on behalf of suppliers. As in academic labs and facilities, countless variables can affect all potential outcomes. Small variations in raw materials, temperatures, purification methods, handling, testing, and more can all introduce foreign components into the end-product and affect research outcomes in unexpected ways.

Xu’s research team had taken what seemed like the right measures to remove contaminants. These included using chromatographic purification on silica gel on their amine catalyst, as well as treating the amine with a sulfur-based material. Even so, the trace metals weren’t detected in the ICP-MS analysis. The fault in the research ultimately fell on the shoulders of their chemical suppliers.

Strem Catalog, part of Ascensus Specialties, takes our responsibility to preserve researchers’ time, resources, and reputations seriously. Eliminating variability, impurities, and inconsistencies is at the core of our business and our mission, and we’ve implemented processes and safeguards designed to ensure we only package chemicals of the highest possible quality and purity.

• Strem Catalog has a robust quality management system. The 48,000-square-foot site in Newburyport, MA, is ISO 9001:2015 certified by NQA for Quality Management System (QMS) standard, which demonstrates ongoing adherence to internationally accepted standards. Customers in academic settings can rest assured that Strem Catalog’s equipment, products, and facility environments are up to the job of producing and shipping high-quality products every time.

• Our employees are trained extensively in best practices for packaging and shipping hazardous and sensitive materials. We select the right packaging containers — including vials, bottles, ampoules, cylinders, bubblers and totes, among others — to meet proper requirements for various sensitivities, such as air, light, heat, and moisture.

• Our experienced quality control team is trained to closely inspect physical properties to ensure specifications meet QC requirements. They assess all Strem Catalog products for indicators of potential contamination or quality concerns — from discoloration to incorrect consistencies, packaging issues, and more. Should an anomaly appear, the team jumps into action, performs a deeper dive into the issue, and works to identify and address the root causes.

• Our commitment to ongoing partnerships with researchers gives us a deeper understanding of our customers’ research needs as well as a roadmap for continuous improvement. These enduring relationships inform our practices — and help us help customers produce repeatable, verifiable results.

Strem Catalog takes every possible step to provide academic researchers with quality chemicals and peace of mind, working hard to ensure every lot adheres to product specifications.

Quality is Our Legacy

Academic research chemists, when they are ready to move forward with a research idea, need to feel confident that their supplier is giving them products that are consistently pure and high quality. A lot is at stake: their professional reputations, time and research funds, and the opportunity to publish results.

For over 60 years, the Strem Catalog has been a trusted partner to the academic research community, helping scientists produce breakthrough results with chemicals of unmatched purity. Our commitment to quality ensures that your research is built on a foundation of reliability—because chemistry should be the variable you control, not your reagents.

If you’re an academic researcher wanting to learn more about why the Strem Catalog is the preferred choice for chemical research needs, explore our product catalog.