Ankara:Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai have been honored with the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking discoveries in asymmetric organic synthesis. Their work revealed how a minor initial imbalance can be amplified, resulting in chemical reactions that predominantly yield one molecular form over its mirror image.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the prize to the French and Japanese chemists for uncovering non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric synthesis. They will share the 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million) prize equally.

Kagan and Soai's research addresses chirality, a fundamental aspect of chemistry where molecules exist in two forms—mirror images like left and right hands. These enantiomers can behave differently with living organisms, impacting the effectiveness and safety of medicines. Their work has crucial implications for drug development, as living organisms typically prefer one form, known as homochirality.

Henri Kagan, born in France in 1930, made significant contributions to asymmetric catalysis, including the development of chiral ligands like DIOP. His pivotal discovery in 1986 showed that even a modest imbalance in a catalyst could lead to a disproportionate production of one enantiomer over another, providing a new method for amplifying molecular asymmetry.

Kenso Soai, born in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1950, achieved a breakthrough with asymmetric autocatalysis. His self-reinforcing chemical system demonstrated that an initial imbalance could grow into near-total molecular uniformity, a phenomenon previously unmatched outside of biological systems. The Soai reaction remains a landmark in organic chemistry.

Together, Kagan and Soai's findings have reshaped the understanding of chirality, offering insights into how life might have developed a preference for certain molecular orientations. Their work has also advanced the selective synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other chemical products.