Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai win 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for asymmetric synthesis work

Henri B. Kagan of France’s Université Paris-Sud and Kenso Soai of Tokyo University of Science have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced in Stockholm on Wednesday. Reuters

The pair were honoured “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis,” according to the Academy. NobelPrize.org

Kagan discovered a new way of manipulating chemical reactions, producing a greater excess of one mirror image than had previously been thought possible, while Soai designed the first chemical reaction in which only one of the potential mirror images was formed — the Soai reaction. “Other than life itself, no one had ever achieved this feat,” the Nobel committee said. NobelPrize.org

The work has been “revolutionary for chemists who develop reactions for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, flavours, scents and new materials,” the committee said, via CNN.

“This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognizes discoveries whose influence has unfolded over decades… transformative advances often emerge from sustained, curiosity-driven research,” said David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at Clarivate’s Institute for Scientific Information, via CNN.

The chemistry award is the third of this year’s science prizes, following the medicine prize on 5 October and the physics prize on 6 October. The laureates will share 12 million Swedish crowns (around $1.2 million). Reuters