ICIQ hosts a lecture by Nobel laureate Benjamin List, director of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research

28th June 2023 -

The Professor is known, together with David Macmillan, for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis, a revolution in the construction of molecules of great importance in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ-CERCA) hosted a seminar given by Prof. Benjamin List, a recognized expert in asymmetric catalysis and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2021. This conference, which forms part of the centre’s prestigious programme of seminars, brought together professionals, researchers and students interested in the field of organic chemistry and catalysis.

Prof. List focused his presentation on the research of asymmetric organocatalysis, a fundamental process for obtaining chiral chemicals with high enantiomeric selectivity, a simple but ingenious method that has revolutionized the field of organic chemistry. His work has been crucial for the development of new methods and techniques that allow the efficient and selective preparation of pharmacological compounds, thus opening up new opportunities for the discovery of promising pharmaceuticals.

Under the title “Universal Organocatalysts for our World”, the scientist shared his knowledge of this revolution in the construction of molecules and the main applications in the synthesis of medicines and pharmaceutical products to make them more sustainable and efficient.

With this conference, ICIQ promoted top-level training through its Seminars Programme sponsored by BASF company, while promoting collaboration with internationally renowned scientists. “This event is very enriching for our researchers and also for our students, who have the unique opportunity to listen to the Professor’s teachings and share his experience”, says ICIQ’s director, Prof. Emilio J. Palomares Gil, who is very satisfied with the reception of this event by the ICIQ community.

This is the second seminar given by a Nobel Prize winner this year, since in the beginning of June Prof. Ben Feringa brought together many interesting professionals in the fields of nanotechnology and molecular chemistry.

About Prof. Benjamin List

Prof. Benjamin List is a leading scientist and a world reference in the field of asymmetric chemistry. His research focuses on the development of new catalytic methodologies to obtain chiral compounds, essential in the synthesis of pharmaceutical molecules and other substances of chemical interest. He has extensive experience and his pioneering work in the field has earned him several awards and recognitions.