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 Nobel Committee for Chemistry highlighted their solution to the long-standing mystery of how homochirality can spontaneously emerge in chemical reactions. These discoveries have had a significant impact on the development of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
Kagan, a 95-year-old French national affiliated with Université Paris-Saclay, and Soai, born in Japan in 1950 and conducting research at the Tokyo University of Science, were recognized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. The prestigious award comes with a prize of 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.7 million Cdn) that the two laureates will share.
The phenomenon of homochirality, where molecules exist as mirror images but living organisms prefer one version, has puzzled scientists for over a century. Kagan and Soai’s work in directing chemical reactions to produce specific mirror-image forms has been instrumental in pharmaceutical design.
Upon receiving the news, Soai expressed his excitement, describing it as one of the most thrilling days of his life. The Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced on Thursday, followed by the peace prize on Friday, and the economics prize on Oct. 12. The Nobel laureates will receive their awards on Dec. 10, as per Alfred Nobel’s will, which designated the prizes to honor those who have made significant contributions to humanity.