‘Godzilla’s gym socks’ molecules' stench tamed by halogen bond
Russian researchers have found a way to eliminate the odour of some of the worst-smelling – but very useful – compounds in chemistry
The organic compounds isocyanides and isonitriles are infamous for their awful smell. ‘It is a combination of hot metal and vomit,’ says odour chemistry expert Luca Turin at the Alexander Fleming research centre in Athens. ‘God forbid, if you dropped 10ml of isonitrile on the floor, you’d run for your life.’ But now Russian researchers have found a way to cut the repulsive smell of isocyanides.