Researchers Benjamin List and David MacMillan receive this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry. They contributed to the development of a new method for constructing molecules.
This method is called asymmetric organocatalysis. According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, this is of great importance for research into new drugs.
Moreover, the method had to contribute to making the chemical processes more environmentally friendly.
Letter (53) is German and MacMillan (53) is from Scotland. He is currently a professor at Princeton University in the United States.
(Angela Weiss / Pool Photo via AP, File)
In 2000, they independently developed a new method. It was based on a new type of catalyst - substances increasing the rate of chemical reaction.
This concept of catalysis is as simple as it is genius. The fact is, many have wondered why they didn't come up with it sooner, says Johan Åqvist, who heads the Nobel Committee on Chemistry.
The use of organic catalysts has increased rapidly since the discovery of the method. List and MacMillan are still considered leaders in this field of research.
Organic catalysts are used, among other things, to produce new drugs and molecules that can capture light in solar cells.
- In this way, humanity now benefits enormously from various organocatalysts - emphasizes the Academy of Sciences.
