JASCO Corporation extends its heartfelt congratulations to Professor Kenso Soai, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of Science, on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Professor Soai’s pioneering work in the field of asymmetric autocatalysis has profoundly advanced our understanding of chirality and the origin of molecular asymmetry. His groundbreaking achievements have inspired researchers around the world and have made an enduring impact on chemistry and related scientific disciplines.
Over many years, Professor Soai and his research group have utilized a variety of JASCO analytical instruments, including our Circular Dichroism (CD) spectrometers, in their studies. We are honored that JASCO technologies have supported a portion of the fundamental research that has contributed to the advancement of chirality science.
Related Publications
- Determination of the absolute structure of the chiral crystal consisting of achiral dibutylhydroxytoluene and asymmetric autocatalysis triggered by this chiral crystal.
A. Matsumoto, S. Takeda, S. Harada, K. Soai
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2016, 27, 943–946.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetasy.2016.07.013
- Achiral 2-pyridone and 4-aminopyridine act as chiral inducers of asymmetric autocatalysis with amplification of enantiomeric excess via the formation of chiral crystals.
A. Matsumoto, D. Tateishi, T. Nakajima, S. Kurosaki, T. Ogawa, T. Kawasaki, K. Soai
Chirality, 2024, 36, e23617.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chir.23617
JASCO has also been a long-standing supporter of the Molecular Chirality Symposium, an academic forum dedicated to the advancement of chirality research. Professor Soai has played a central role in this scientific community and was recognized with the Molecular Chirality Achievement Award at Molecular Chirality 2026 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field.
https://www.rs.tus.ac.jp/mc2026/
We are delighted to celebrate this remarkable achievement and extend our sincere congratulations to Professor Soai. We wish him continued health, success, and many more years of scientific inspiration.
As a company committed to advancing chiroptical science, JASCO is proud to support researchers working at the forefront of chirality research worldwide.
Congratulations, Professor Soai!