The names of the 2021 Nobel Prize winners in chemistry have been announced: scientist Benjamin List and David MacMillan.
Scientists are noted for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis. The names were announced in an online broadcast of the ceremony from the Nobel Assembly of the Karolinska Institute.
Until 2000, two types of catalysts were known: metals and enzymes.
Scientists were able to develop a new type using small organic molecules.
Organic catalysts have a stable framework of carbon atoms to which more reactive chemical groups can attach.
They contain oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus, which makes them more accessible to production and less harmful to the environment.
The scientists’ development can be used to trigger many reactions, and also opens up broad opportunities for the production of new pharmaceuticals and molecules.
The award ceremony is scheduled for December 10. It is likely that, like last year, the ceremony will be held remotely.
The laureates will receive SEK 10 million.
Let us recall that in 2020, Emmanuel Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna became Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry, who contributed to the development of genome editing methods.
