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Kagan and Soai win chemistry Nobel for making reactions choose a mirror image

Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai received the chemistry Nobel for discoveries that amplify one of a molecule’s two mirror-image forms. Their work helps chemists make the form needed in pharmaceutical synthesis. The award recognises earlier advances in nonlinear effects and autocatalysis, including a reaction that formed only one mirror image.

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Two molecular models with different handed arrangements on a bright laboratory bench.

Mirror images matter in drug synthesis

Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai received the chemistry Nobel on 7 October for discoveries in asymmetric organic synthesis. This branch of chemistry seeks to favour one of two molecular forms that are mirror images of each other. The award recognises nonlinear effects and autocatalysis, through which a reaction can amplify an initial imbalance between those forms.[1], [2]

Mirror-image molecular forms can have different biological effects. Pharmaceutical synthesis therefore needs ways to produce the desired form selectively. Proteins in living cells use a particular handed form of amino acids, a property known as homochirality. The discoveries concern how such chemical asymmetry can emerge and be amplified in reactions.[1]

Kagan’s 1986 result enlarged the imbalance

Kagan demonstrated a nonlinear effect in 1986 that yielded a greater excess of one mirror-image form than chemists had thought possible. Soai’s key publication in 1995 then described a reaction designed with the potential to become homochiral. These steps provided routes toward selective synthesis rather than a new experiment announced with the prize.[1]

Soai’s reaction reached a single mirror image

In 2003, Soai presented a reaction that formed only one of the two possible mirror-image products. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences describes the laureates’ work as decisive for designing pharmaceutical manufacturing reactions. Kagan is an emeritus professor at the former Université Paris-Sud in France; Soai is an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Science in Japan.[1]

References

  1. News sourceNobelPrize.orgChemistry Nobel honours Kagan and Soai’s asymmetric synthesis discoveries↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceThe GuardianKagan and Soai win chemistry Nobel for asymmetric synthesis↩
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