Nobel Chemistry Prize Jointly Awarded to Two Chemists for Developing 'Non-Toxic Chemical Synthesis Method' (Comprehensive)

Published 06 Oct.2021 21:29(KST)

Updated 07 Oct.2021 06:35(KST)

Benjamin List, Professor at Germany's Max Planck Institute, and David MacMillan, Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, USA
Both are 'Jihanpa' chemists with experience working or collaborating in Korea
Nobel Committee: "Achieved a new milestone in chemical synthesis by developing asymmetric organocatalysts"

Nobel Chemistry Prize Jointly Awarded to Two Chemists for Developing 'Non-Toxic Chemical Synthesis Method' (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to chemists from the United States and Germany who developed a non-toxic, eco-friendly asymmetric organocatalyst technology capable of synthesizing chemical substances without metal catalysts or enzymes. Notably, both recipients have worked in Korea and collaborated with Korean researchers, earning them recognition as 'pro-Korea' figures, which has attracted attention.

The Nobel Committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on the afternoon of the 6th (local time) that Professor Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute in Germany and Professor David MacMillan of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University in the United States have been selected as this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureates.

The two were recognized for developing asymmetric organocatalyst technology in the early 2000s that can produce various chemicals without metals or enzymes, bringing a major innovation to the pharmaceutical industry. The Nobel Committee explained, "The two were awarded for developing organocatalysts, a precise and novel tool for molecular construction," adding, "Their work has had a significant impact on pharmaceutical research and has made chemistry more environmentally friendly."

Today, many industries and scientific research rely on chemical synthesis. Examples include battery production, drug development, and new material development. Catalysts are essential in these chemical syntheses. Catalysts do not become part of the final product but control or accelerate chemical reactions. For instance, cars have catalysts that convert toxic substances in exhaust gases into harmless ones. The human body also contains thousands of catalysts necessary for breaking down nutrients from food to sustain life. Such catalysts have been fundamental tools for chemists.

The problem is that metals and enzymes, which chemists have long used as catalysts, can be harmful to the human body. For example, using metals as catalysts in chemically synthesizing pharmaceuticals for biological activity can cause toxicity. Although this issue has been studied extensively in the chemistry community, it was considered a challenging problem. The two laureates were honored for developing a third type of catalyst in 2000, besides metals and enzymes ? the 'asymmetric organocatalyst' composed of small organic molecules.

The asymmetric organocatalysts they developed have stable carbon atom structures, enabling their use in synthesizing various chemical substances. They are also highly eco-friendly and cost-effective, receiving great acclaim in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Nobel Committee stated, "Since the two developed asymmetric organocatalyst technology in 2000, this technology has been used to manufacture numerous chemical substances," adding, "Researchers have been able to synthesize more efficiently, from new pharmaceuticals to molecules that capture light in solar cells, bringing maximum benefits to humanity." Representative pharmaceuticals developed using the asymmetric organocatalyst technology include the antidepressant 'Duloxetine,' the diabetes medication 'Sitagliptin,' and the anticoagulant 'Warfarin.'

Meanwhile, the fact that both laureates have strong ties to Korea as 'pro-Korea' figures has also drawn interest. Professor List was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1968 and earned his Ph.D. from Frankfurt University in 1997. He briefly worked as a visiting professor at Sungkyunkwan University in 2008. Professor MacMillan was born in Bellshill, Scotland, UK, in 1968 and served as an endowed professor in the Department of Chemistry at Seoul National University from 2016 to 2017.

The two scientists will share a prize of 10 million Swedish kronor (approximately 1.35 billion KRW). The Nobel Prize is a prestigious award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to human progress, in accordance with the wishes of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.

Starting with the Physiology or Medicine Prize announced on the 4th, the Physics Prize on the 5th, and the Chemistry Prize on the 6th have been announced, followed by the Literature Prize on the 7th, the Peace Prize on the 8th, and the Economics Prize on the 11th. This year's Nobel Prize ceremony will be held online at the end of the year, as was the case last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.