Professor Henri B Kagan, from Université Paris-Sud, France, and Professor Kenso Soai, from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on asymmetric organic synthesis.
Many organic molecules exist in two forms which are mirror images of each other. Despite their similarities, these right- and left-handed 'enantiomers' tend to have distinct properties. For example, 'many of the drug molecules occur in two variants that are each other's non-identical mirror image: one has the therapeutic effect, while the other can cause unnecessary and sometimes harmful side effects,' said the Nobel Foundation.
In the laboratory, chemical synthesis reactions typically produce both enantiomers in equal quantities. In nature, however, only one form tends to be synthetised and used in biological processes, which is known as homochirality. The research conducted by Professors Kagan and Soai helped to explain the possible origin of homochirality on Earth, and, crucially, uncovered how to design chemical reactions that would produce only a specific enantiomer.
'Other than life itself,' stated the Nobel Committee, 'no one had previously achieved this feat'.
Read more about this research on Chemistry World