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The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded for a discovery in the field of organic synthesis

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to scientists Henri Kagan from France and Kenso Soai from Japan "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis."

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for a discovery in the field of organic synthesis

The laureates of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry are Henri Kagan (University of Paris-Sud, France) and Kenso Soai (Tokyo University of Science, Japan). The award was presented "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis," according to the Nobel Committee's website.

"Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai found a solution to a chemical puzzle that had existed for more than a century: how homochirality can spontaneously arise. The chemical reactions they developed are impressive," said Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

The committee also noted that the scientists' discovery "played a crucial role for chemists who develop reactions for the production of pharmaceuticals."

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