World
Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discoveries in asymmetric organic synthesis.
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Henri Kagan from France and Kenso Soai from Japan by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The two researchers will share the prize of 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to about 1.1 million euros or 6.2 million reais.
Kagan and Soai were recognized for their significant contributions to the field of organic synthesis, specifically for the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. This research is crucial for understanding how chemical reactions can predominantly produce one of two enantiomeric forms of a molecule without the presence of other chiral molecules.
The research that led to the award helped explain why some biomolecules, such as amino acids and sugars, exist in forms that can be considered mirror images of each other, similar to right and left hands. The discoveries of Kagan and Soai are deemed fundamental for the production of pharmaceuticals and other valuable chemical compounds.
_en_l%E2%80%99honneur_du_Professeur_Henri_Kagan_(12610168484).jpg){kind=link}
According to reports, the findings of Kagan and Soai enable the optimization of reactions that produce drugs and new materials, and are considered a significant advancement in modern chemistry.
Media reports indicate that the award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where other scientific fields such as Medicine and Physics are also honored with equivalent awards.
The contributions of these scientists to chemistry exemplify the importance of fundamental research, which often leads to practical applications in the pharmaceutical industry and other sectors.