Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai on 7th October, 2026. The prize recognises their discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.

2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Laureates and Their Discovery

Many molecules exist in two mirror-image forms, like left and right hands. These forms can behave very differently inside the body. Living things use only one "hand", so chemists need to make just the required form.

Kagan found a way to control reactions so that one mirror image forms in much greater amounts than was thought possible. This helps in making medicines, flavours, scents and new materials. Soai designed the first reaction in which only one mirror image forms. Before this, only life itself had done so. This is known as the Soai reaction.

What Is Asymmetric Organic Synthesis?

It is a branch of chemistry that makes molecules with one particular 3D arrangement (an enantiomer) in preference to its mirror image. This matters because the two forms can act differently in living systems, so controlling this "handedness" is vital in medicine.

What Are Non-Linear Effects in Chemistry?

Normally, a change in the catalyst gives a matching change in the product. In non-linear effects, this is not so. A small change in the mix of catalyst forms can cause a much bigger change in the handedness of the product. Kagan's work established and explained this idea.

What Is Autocatalysis?

In autocatalysis, a product of a reaction also acts as a catalyst for the same reaction. The more product forms, the faster the reaction goes, so the process feeds itself.

What Is Asymmetric Autocatalysis?

Here, a product with one handedness helps make more molecules of the same handedness. In Soai's reaction, a tiny starting preference is amplified step by step. It shows how one molecular handedness can come to dominate.

2024 and 2025 Past Laureates of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

• 2025: Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi, for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)
• 2024: David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper, for protein design and protein structure prediction

About Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai

• Henri B. Kagan: From France, linked with Université Paris-Sud, Orsay. He is known for non-linear effects in asymmetric synthesis.
• Kenso Soai: From Japan, linked with the Tokyo University of Science. He is known for asymmetric autocatalysis.