Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work on non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. The discovery sheds light on the spontaneous emergence of homochirality, a chemical mystery that has puzzled scientists for over a century.
Heiner Linke, the chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, praised Kagan and Soai for their significant contributions, stating that their chemical reactions have been instrumental for chemists involved in designing pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
Kagan, aged 95 and hailing from France, is associated with Université Paris-Saclay in Orsay, while Soai, born in Japan in 1950, conducts his research at the Tokyo University of Science. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences revealed the laureates in Stockholm, announcing a prize of 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.7 million Cdn) to be shared between them.
The molecules crucial for life exist in two mirror-image forms, but organisms predominantly utilize only one form, a phenomenon termed “homochirality.” Kagan and Soai’s innovative methods compel chemistry to favor a specific mirror image, revolutionizing the design of reactions crucial for pharmaceutical production.
Expressing his elation, Soai shared that receiving the news was one of the most thrilling moments of his life. He recounted being informed by the Nobel committee while out shopping near his residence.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is scheduled for announcement on Thursday, followed by the peace prize on Friday and the economics prize on Oct. 12. The laureates will be presented with their Nobel prizes on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s passing, in adherence to his wish that his estate be used to reward those who have made significant contributions to humanity in the preceding year.
