Nobel Prize in chemistry a chance to ponder Japan's scientific strengths
(Mainichi Japan) October 7, 2010+
Akira Suzuki and Ei-ichi Negishi have won the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry together with American Richard Heck, just two years after another Japanese national won the prize.
Japanese scientists also won the chemistry prize for three years in a row from 2000 to 2002 -- their achievements have brought the prize significantly closer to Japan.
The 2010 prize was awarded for the scientists' work in organic synthesis, one of Japan's specialties. The award is not only an encouragement for the nation, but will also spur young people's interest in science and the culture of craftsmanship. We are delighted by the achievement.
The framework of the various organic compounds that are useful in medicine and other areas of our daily lives is built upon carbon. For this reason, reactions that bind carbon atoms are extremely important in forming many organic compounds.
It is very difficult, however, to get carbon to react. And, as soon as the reactivity is increased, impurities emerge.
Suzuki and Negishi were awarded the Nobel Prize "for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis." By adding a small amount of palladium to reactions as a catalyst, they were able to efficiently and accurately bond targeted carbon atoms, and produce new synthetic compounds.
Heck, who could be described as the pioneer of such reactions, developed what is known as the "Heck coupling reaction." Negishi extended this reaction to develop a reaction called the "Negishi coupling." The "Suzuki coupling" developed by Suzuki is a completed version. It is used extensively in pharmaceutical products, liquid crystals and the synthesis of chemical fibers. The Nobel committee no doubt took the extensive application of these reactions into consideration in awarding the scientists the prize.
Many Japanese contributed to the development of cross couplings, and many reactions are named after their Japanese developers. Three names were picked out this time in connection with palladium-catalyzed reactions, but there are likely others whose work would merit the same recognition. It is certain that the breadth of Japanese scientists in this field led to Suzuki and Negishi being honored.
We remember that Osamu Shimomura, who won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, produced results through a finding in fundamental science that was sparked by his own interests. What he discovered became an indispensable tool in biological science. In a similar vein, the 2010 prize was probably the fruit of the scientific world's efforts, whereby a chemical reaction based on basic science led the way to better reactions.
Under such circumstances, we cannot gaze comfortably on the current state of science in Japan. There are many issues that need to be addressed, including the decline of basic research funding at universities, and the weak state of the system bridging the gap between basic science and its application.
The scientific world is in the midst of an international battle, and the rise of emerging nations threatens Japan's strength in craftsmanship. We want to use the 2010 Nobel Prize as an opportunity to think about what has enabled Japan to remain at the top of the field of organic chemistry amid such circumstances.
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