Benjamin List, David MacMillan win 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The two scientists were cited for their work in developing a new way for building molecules, known as asymmetric organocatalysis, the prestigious Nobel Committee said.

German scientist Benjamin List (left) and Scotland-born scientist David W C MacMillan (right) | www.nobelprize.org

Stockholm: The Nobel Prize for chemistry has been awarded to German scientist Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute and Scotland-born scientist David W C MacMillan of Princeton University.

They were cited for their work in developing a new way for building molecules known as asymmetric organocatalysis. The winners were announced Wednesday by Goran Hansson, secretary-general of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

The Nobel panel said List and MacMillan in 2000 independently developed a new way of catalysis.

It’s already benefiting humankind greatly, Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede, a member of the Nobel panel, said.