Historic Fluorine Discovery

A groundbreaking discovery by chemists at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will have a significant impact on how pharmaceutical companies develop new drug treatments. The breakthrough involves fluorine, which forms the second strongest carbon bond (C-F) known to science, after the carbon-silicon (C-S) bond.

Fluorine is one of the most fundamental elements of life. In its fluoride form, it's a mineral with anti-acid properties used in toothpaste and drinking water to prevent dental cavities. This small, non-toxic element is also widely used by medicinal chemists in cancer treatment, antibiotics, anti-depressants, steroids, and other drugs. Fluorine is prevalent in modern drugs because it stabilizes drugs and improves their biological activity.