The Bicyclic Problem: A 1985 Discovery That Explained Quantum Biology
How observing "impossible" chemistry revealed quantum principles decades before we understood them
Dr. Mercier des Rochettes
PhD, Hydrogen Transfer Chemistry (1985)
Based on his groundbreaking PhD research on hydrogen transfer in cyclohexadiene systems during catalytic cracking.
Imagine discovering something fundamental about the universe but not having the language to explain what you've found. In 1985, that's exactly what happened to Dr. Mercier des Rochettes.
Working on his PhD in hydrogen transfer chemistry, he observed something that seemed impossible by the standards of classical chemistry: molecules that should easily transfer hydrogen atoms... simply wouldn't. His PhD director, reviewing the work, remarked that these observations "seemed like genius ideas." But neither of them fully understood why.
Now, 40 years later, we know: Dr. Mercier des Rochettes was observing quantum mechanical effects before the field of quantum biology existed to explain them.
The Strange Observation
Dr. Mercier des Rochettes was studying hydrogen transfer in cyclohexadiene systems during catalytic cracking—the industrial process that breaks down large hydrocarbon molecules into gasoline and other useful products.
The Key Finding:
When a molecule has two rings (cycles) rigidly connected together, hydrogen transfer between those rings is extraordinarily difficult—even when the chemistry says it should work fine.
This seemed wrong. According to classical chemical theory, these bicyclic molecules should be better at hydrogen transfer:
- ✅ The donor and acceptor are held close together in one molecule
- ✅ They can't diffuse apart
- ✅ The energy requirements look reasonable
- ✅ Everything about the chemistry looks favorable
Yet the transfer was 10,000 to 100,000 times slower than predicted. Something was fundamentally wrong with the theory.
Why Classical Theory Failed
Classical transition state theory—the standard way chemists understood reactions in 1985—made clear predictions. For hydrogen transfer to occur, you need:
Enough Energy
To climb over the activation barrier
Close Proximity
Donor and acceptor need to be near each other
Right Geometry
Proper alignment for bond formation
The bicyclic molecules had all of this. The chemistry looked perfect. But the reaction wouldn't happen.
Classical theory couldn't explain why rigid molecular structures prevented transfer. The answer required quantum mechanics.
The Quantum Explanation (40 Years Later)
What Dr. Mercier des Rochettes observed in 1985 makes perfect sense now that we understand quantum tunneling. He was seeing something fundamental about how quantum mechanics operates in chemical systems.
What Is Quantum Tunneling?
In quantum mechanics, particles don't have to climb over energy barriers—they can tunnel through them. It's like walking through a wall instead of climbing over it.
But tunneling has very strict requirements. The "wall" has to be thin enough, the particle has to approach at the right angle, and everything has to be perfectly aligned. Miss any of these requirements, and tunneling becomes essentially impossible.
Why Bicyclic Molecules Fail
Rigid bicyclic structures create exactly the wrong conditions for quantum tunneling:
Wrong Distance
Tunneling works best at 2.5-3.5 Ångströms. Bicyclic structures lock donor and acceptor at 4-6 Å—too far for efficient tunneling.
Poor Orbital Alignment
The rigid structure forces orbitals into non-optimal orientations. Tunneling probability drops by orders of magnitude.
No Conformational Sampling
Flexible molecules can wiggle around until they find optimal geometry. Rigid bicyclic structures are frozen in place—if the geometry is wrong, it stays wrong.
The Fundamental Principle
Rigid molecular architecture prevents the geometric optimization required for quantum mechanical processes.
This is what Dr. Mercier des Rochettes discovered in 1985, even though he didn't have the quantum mechanical framework to explain it at the time.
How Evolution Solved the Bicyclic Problem
Once we understand the bicyclic problem, something remarkable becomes clear: evolution solved it billions of years ago.
❌ Bicyclic Molecules
- ✗ Distance fixed by covalent bonds
- ✗ Rigid, can't sample conformations
- ✗ Usually wrong geometry
- ✗ Transfer very slow or impossible
✅ Enzyme Active Sites
- ✓ Distance optimized (~3 Å)
- ✓ Flexible, samples conformations
- ✓ Can find optimal geometry
- ✓ Transfer fast and efficient
Nature's Solution:
Instead of covalently connecting donor and acceptor (which creates rigid geometry), enzymes position them in space using flexible protein structures. The protein can "breathe" and sample conformations, occasionally achieving optimal geometry for tunneling. When everything aligns, the quantum tunneling occurs—fast and efficient.
Why This Discovery Matters Today
🧬 Explains Why Life Uses Proteins
Why are enzymes huge, complex proteins instead of small, simple molecules? Because flexibility is essential for quantum efficiency. Rigid molecules that look optimal classically are actually terrible quantum mechanically.
⚗️ Informs Catalyst Design
Industrial catalysts should incorporate controlled flexibility, not maximal rigidity. Dynamic behavior matters as much as static structure.
🔬 Reveals Scientific Process
Sometimes the most important discoveries happen before we have the theory to understand them. Careful observation of "anomalies" can reveal fundamental principles.
💻 Impacts Quantum Computing
Understanding how proteins maintain quantum coherence while remaining flexible may inform the design of room-temperature quantum computers.
The 40-Year Journey
The Observation
Bicyclic systems won't transfer hydrogen. Classical theory can't explain why.
Quantum Tunneling Discovered
Enzymes use quantum mechanics for hydrogen transfer.
Geometric Requirements Understood
Optimal distance and orbital alignment for tunneling identified.
Protein Dynamics Crucial
Conformational flexibility enables quantum efficiency.
Full Understanding
The 1985 observation is recognized as prescient quantum mechanical insight.
Genius Recognized 40 Years Later
When Dr. Mercier des Rochettes' PhD director called his work "genius ideas," he was recognizing something profound, even if neither of them could articulate exactly what.
The observation that rigid bicyclic structures prevent hydrogen transfer seemed like a curious quirk of chemistry. It turned out to be a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics—one that explains why life is built on flexible proteins rather than rigid small molecules.
Sometimes genius looks like seeing patterns deeper than current theory can explain. That's exactly what happened in 1985.
Read the Full Manuscript
Dr. Mercier des Rochettes has written a comprehensive 20,000-word review tracing the evolution of hydrogen transfer understanding from 1985 to 2025, showing how his early observations presaged the quantum biology revolution.