French, Japanese scientists win 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

French chemist Henri B. Kagan and Japanese chemist Kenso Soai have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking discoveries in asymmetric organic synthesis. Their work, which includes the identification of non-linear effects and autocatalysis, has provided scientists with unprecedented control over the stereochemistry of molecules, a property crucial for the synthesis of essential molecules like amino acids.

By demonstrating how a small excess of one mirror-image catalyst can produce a much larger excess of the corresponding product, Kagan opened new avenues for chemical control. Soai's subsequent development of an autocatalytic reaction further amplified these effects, leading to a greater dominance of one mirror-image molecule. These discoveries have had significant implications for pharmaceuticals, where the correct mirror-image version of a drug is essential for efficacy and safety.

The Nobel Committee praised their work as a solution to a chemical mystery that has persisted for over a century, and the two scientists will share a prize of 12 million Swedish kronor.

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