Chemie-Nobelpreis für Werkzeug zum Aufbau von Molekülen

Stockholm Der diesjährige Nobelpreis für Chemie geht an den Deutschen Benjamin List und den gebürtigen Briten David MacMillan für die Entwicklung der asymmetrischen Organokatalyse, einen neuen Weg zum Aufbau von Molekülen. Das gab die Königlich-Schwedische Akademie der Wissenschaften am Mittwoch bekannt. Der Generalsekretär der Akademie sprach von einem “genialen Werkzeug zum Bau von Molekülen”. MacMillan und List hätten im Jahr 2000 unabhängig voneinander einen neuen Weg der Katalyse entwickelt. Von der Erfindung profitiere die Menschheit bereits außerordentlich, sagte Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede, ein Mitglied des Nobelpreiskomitees. Genutzt werde dies heute unter anderem in der Medikamenten-Entwicklung und für die Produktion von Feinchemikalien.

List ist Direktor des Max-Planck-Instituts für Kohlenforschung in Mühlheim an der Ruhr, MacMillan forscht an der Princeton-Universität in den USA.

This handout photo released on October 6, 2021 by Princeton University shows British-born Professor of Chemistry. David MacMillan, one of the two co-winners of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, as announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 6, 2021. - Germany's Benjamin List and David MacMillan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction, the jury said. The duo was awarded — This handout photo released on October 6, 2021 by Princeton University shows British-born Professor of Chemistry. David MacMillan, one of the two co-winners of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, as announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 6, 2021. – Germany’s Benjamin List and David MacMillan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction, the jury said. The duo was awarded “for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction: organocatalysis. This has had a great impact on pharmaceutical research, and has made chemistry greener,” the Nobel Committee said. (Photo by Denise Applewhite / PRINCETON UNIVERSITY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / Princeton University / Denise Applewhite” – NO MARKETING – NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

This picture taken on March 1, 2016 shows German chemist Benjamin List posing in Berlin after he was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize by the German Research Foundation. - Germany's Benjamin List and British born scientist David MacMillan on October 6, 2021 won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction, the jury said. The duo was awarded — This picture taken on March 1, 2016 shows German chemist Benjamin List posing in Berlin after he was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize by the German Research Foundation. – Germany’s Benjamin List and British born scientist David MacMillan on October 6, 2021 won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction, the jury said. The duo was awarded “for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction: organocatalysis. This has had a great impact on pharmaceutical research, and has made chemistry greener,” the Nobel Committee said. (Photo by Soeren Stache / dpa / AFP) / Germany OUT