Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their groundbreaking work on non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, hailed their discovery as a solution to a long-standing chemical puzzle on the spontaneous emergence of homochirality.
Kagan, a 95-year-old French national associated with Université Paris-Saclay in Orsay, France, and Soai, born in Japan in 1950, who conducts research at the Tokyo University of Science, were recognized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. The prestigious award carries a prize totaling 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.7 million Cdn).
Their research has had a significant impact on the development of chemical reactions for pharmaceutical production, according to Linke. The laureates’ work has enabled chemists to manipulate reactions to selectively produce mirror-image molecules, aiding in the design of pharmaceutical processes.
Expressing his excitement, Soai shared that receiving the Nobel Prize was one of the most thrilling moments in his life. He recounted being informed of the award while out shopping near his residence.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is scheduled to be announced on Thursday, followed by the peace prize on Friday, and the economics prize on October 12. The Nobel laureates will officially receive their awards on December 10, in accordance with Alfred Nobel’s will, which designated the prizes to honor those who have made significant contributions to humanity in the preceding year.