Catalysts for Change – How Apeiron Enables Innovation Through Olefin Metathesis
Lucy Payton 
In a chemical industry under growing pressure to innovate, reduce waste, and improve efficiency, few technologies offer as much untapped potential as olefin metathesis. This powerful carbon-carbon bond rearrangement has evolved from academic breakthrough to industrial asset – and it’s helping reshape the way we design and execute synthesis.
At the center of this shift is Apeiron Synthesis, a specialist in advanced metathesis catalysts and process support. With decades of cumulative experience, proprietary IP, and a strong R&D backbone, Apeiron enables chemical innovation not just in theory, but in practice across pharmaceutical, bio-based chemicals, fragrance, and Polymers & Composites.
Chemistry That Moves The Needle
The key to olefin metathesis is in its versatility and precision. By exchanging alkene fragments with remarkable atom economy and functional group tolerance, the reaction provides elegant solutions for challenges that often require brute force in classical synthesis.
For industrial users, what truly counts is how well a catalyst performs in real conditions:
- Lower catalyst loadings
- Fewer side products
- Higher turnover numbers (TON)
- Easier product purification
These are the criteria that drive decisions, and it’s precisely here that Apeiron Synthesis delivers value.
Designed To Meet Real Process Needs
Apeiron’s technology centres on the design and production of ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts with tailored properties. Modifications to CAAC and NHC ligand structures, developed in-house, result in catalysts that are robust, selective, and scalable.
Selected examples include:
- UltraNitroCat (AS2091): high-efficiency macrocyclization and Cross Metathesis (CM) with acrylonitrile
- SlashCat (AS2153): record-breaking TON (>1.2 million) in ethenolysis of FAMEs
- nitro-Grela SIP (AS2033): general-purpose catalyst with reduced sensitivity to impurities
- UltraLatMet (AS2198) and PolCat (AS2151): latent Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) catalysts with controllable gelation profiles
Innovation Across Sectors
The flexibility of Apeiron’s catalyst portfolio supports innovation across key sectors:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Renewable chemicals
- Fine chemicals and fragrance synthesis
- Composites and advanced polymers
A Collaborative Model
Apeiron is not merely a supplier — it’s a strategic partner in catalysis. Through its CDMO and CRO activities focused exclusively on olefin metathesis, the company supports partners from early screening to multi-kilogram development, offering:
- Tailored catalyst selection and synthesis
- Process optimization and scale-up advice
- IP guidance and regulatory alignment
- Reliable delivery and ongoing technical support
This hands-on, focused model has earned Apeiron a distinct position as the only company solely dedicated to industrial olefin metathesis.
Apeiron Synthesis is committed to making advanced metathesis catalysts accessible not only through product innovation, but by shaping how metathesis is used and understood across industries.
