The search was on for a synthetic fiber. By 1934, Carothers had a promising development: He combined the chemicals amine, hexamethylene diamine, and adipic acid. It created fibers! But they were weak.

ACDS tapped toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate for its dual nature as both an allergen and an alternative to other compounds.

The team has developed a new way to make a special kind of molecule called a ‘chiral vicinal diamine’. A general, practical, convenient, and enantioselective synthesis of chiral vicinal diamines is ...