The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word CHELATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
C
H
E
L
A
T
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "compound" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case compound = chelate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CHELATE mean?
CHELATE noun- A chelate compound
- To form a chelate compound by combining a metal atom to form a ring
- To remove heavy metals from the bloodstream using a chelate (such as EDTA)
- Having chelae, or in the form of a chela
- Relating to chelation