Contents

**VII**



**1**

**Chapter**

Chemistry

*Eusebio Juaristi*

**Abstract**

organocatalysis.

**1. Introduction**

(*S*)-Proline, stereoselective reactions

led to the award of the Nobel Prize, in the year 2000.

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry:

Chemistry is not a stagnant scientific discipline; on the contrary, chemistry is a continuously advancing activity. Indeed, the XXI century is registering the emergence of several highly relevant new chemical developments that are already having an impact in the way both academic institutions and chemical enterprise are working. Two innovative concepts are particularly relevant, (1) asymmetric organocatalysis and (2) green chemistry. Indeed, the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was bestowed on German chemist Benjamin List and Scottish chemist David MacMillan for their demonstration that small organic molecules such as chiral amino acids and heterocycles are capable to catalyze the enantioselective formation of carbon-carbon bonds in the absence of potentially toxic transition metals. The other field that is presently most appreciated is that of the so-called green chemistry, which concerns the elimination of chemical substances and procedures that could be harmful to animals, humans and/or the environment. Former Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner Ryōji Noyori has stated that the survival of humankind depends on the ability of chemists to master the principles of green chemistry. In this regard, during the past 15 years the author's own research has contributed to the development of more sustainable asymmetric

**Keywords:** asymmetric organocatalysis, green chemistry, sustainable chemistry,

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Drs. Benjamin List and David MacMillan in recognition of their relevant contributions in the field of asymmetric organocatalysis. **Figure 1** shows photographs of Benjamin List and David MacMillan when they were the age at which they carried out the research work that eventually

Benjamin List was born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, and studied organic chemistry at the Free University of Berlin, in the group of Professor Johann Mulzer,

Relevance of Asymmetric

Organocatalysis and Green

**VIII**
