The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Why in News?

Henri Kagan of Paris-Saclay University, France, and Kenso Soai of Tokyo University of Science, Japan, were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discoveries concerning non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. Their work has helped explain how chemical reactions can favour one molecular mirror image over another, with important applications in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

About Homochirality

Some molecules, such as amino acids, can exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other, similar to a person’s left and right hands. This property is known as chirality. The two mirror-image forms are called enantiomers.

Living organisms predominantly use one particular form of many biologically important molecules. This preference is known as homochirality. For example, proteins in living organisms are made almost exclusively from L-amino acids.

The origin of homochirality has puzzled scientists for more than a century. Research into asymmetric organic synthesis has demonstrated how chemical reactions can favour the formation of one enantiomer over the other.

Key Concepts

Asymmetric organic synthesis involves designing chemical reactions that preferentially produce one molecular mirror-image form over the other. It is particularly important in pharmaceutical manufacturing because different enantiomers of a compound can have different biological effects.

Autocatalysis occurs when a product of a chemical reaction helps catalyse the same reaction, promoting the formation of more product. In certain asymmetric reactions, this can amplify a small initial imbalance between two enantiomers.

Non-linear effects arise when the enantiomeric composition of the product does not change proportionally with the enantiomeric composition of the catalyst. These effects can help explain how a small initial molecular imbalance may become amplified during a chemical reaction.

CLICK HERE: UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED WEEKLY TEST (ENG & HINDI)

CLICK HERE FOR GS TIMES PRAHAR UPSC GS MAINS TEST SERIES 

CLICK HERE: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ (FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS)