Press release: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021

1 Press RELEASE. 6 O ctober 2021. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 to Benjamin List David MacMillan Max-Planck-Institut f r Kohlenforschung, Princeton University, USA. M lheim an der Ruhr, Germany for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis . An ingenious tool for building molecules Building molecules is a difficult art. Benjamin List Organic catalysts have a stable framework of carbon atoms, and David MacMillan are awarded the Nobel Prize to which more active chemical groups can attach. These in Chemistry 2021 for their development of a often contain common elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, precise new tool for molecular construction: sulphur or phosphorus.

2 This means that these catalysts are organocatalysis. This has had a great impact both environmentally friendly and cheap to produce. on pharmaceutical research, and has made The rapid expansion in the use of organic catalysts is Chemistry greener. primarily due to their ability to drive asymmetric catalysis. Many research areas and industries are dependent on When molecules are being built, situations often occur chemists' ability to construct molecules that can form where two different molecules can form, which just like elastic and durable materials, store energy in batteries or our hands are each other's mirror image.

3 Chemists will inhibit the progression of diseases. This work requires often only want one of these, particularly when producing catalysts, which are substances that control and accelerate pharmaceuticals. chemical reactions , without becoming part of the final Organocatalysis has developed at an astounding speed product. For example, catalysts in cars transform toxic since 2000. Benjamin List and David MacMillan remain substances in exhaust fumes to harmless molecules. Our leaders in the field, and have shown that organic catalysts bodies also contain thousands of catalysts in the form of can be used to drive multitudes of chemical reactions .

4 Enzymes, which chisel out the molecules necessary for life. Using these reactions , researchers can now more Catalysts are thus fundamental tools for chemists, but efficiently construct anything from new pharmaceuticals researchers long believed that there were, in principle, to molecules that can capture light in solar cells. In this just two types of catalysts available: metals and enzymes. way, organocatalysts are bringing the greatest benefit Benjamin List and David MacMillan are awarded the to humankind. Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 because in 2000 they, Nobel Prize is a registered trademark of the Nobel Foundation.

5 Independent of each other, developed a third type of Benjamin List, born 1968 in Frankfurt, Germany. 1997 from Goethe catalysis. It is called asymmetric organocatalysis and builds University Frankfurt, Germany. Director of the Max-Planck-Institut f r Kohlenforschung, M lheim an der Ruhr, Germany. upon small organic molecules. This concept for catalysis is as simple as it is ingenious, David MacMillan, born 1968 in Bellshill, UK. 1996 from and the fact is that many people have wondered why we University of California, Irvine, USA. Professor at Princeton University, USA. didn't think of it earlier, says Johan qvist, who is chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry .

6 Prize amount: 10 million Swedish kronor, to be shared equally between the Laureates. Further information: and Press contact: Eva Nevelius, Press Secretary, +46 70 878 67 63, Expert: Peter Somfai, +46 70 693 63 77, the Nobel Committe for Chemistry The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, founded in 1739, is an independent organisation whose overall objective is to promote the sciences and strengthen their influence in society. The Academy takes special responsibility for the natural sciences and mathematics, but endeavours to promote the exchange of ideas between various disciplines. BOX 50005, SE-104 05 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

7 TEL +46 8 673 95 00, BES K/VISIT: LILLA FRESCATIV GEN 4A, SE-114 18 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.