Laureates solve mystery of single-mirror molecule creation
The 2026 chemistry prize laureates solved a long-standing mystery about creating single-mirror molecule variants in a laboratory setting.
Living organisms typically use only one specific mirror image of many organic molecules found in nature today. This natural preference is known as homochiral and involves specific sugar molecules within the DNA helix structure.
Standard chemical reactions usually produce both mirror image variants when scientists create organic molecules in a lab environment. One variant might be the active drug substance while the other could cause harmful side effects for patients.
Henri Kagan proposed controlling reactions to favor one mirror image during chemical processes in the mid-1980s. Kenso Soai later designed a reaction that essentially produces only one mirror image without creating the other variant.
These discoveries provide new tools for chemists to produce pure substance variants needed for manufacturing various pharmaceutical drugs effectively. The work also benefits flavor development and agricultural chemical production for global human needs and safety.