Asymmetric catalysis: Science and opportunities (Nobel lecture 2001)

Asymmetric catalysis, in its infancy in the 1960s, has dramatically changed the procedures of chemical synthesis, and resulted in an impressive progression to a level that technically approximates or sometimes even, exceeds that of natural biological processes. The recent exceptional advances in this area attest to a range of conceptual breakthroughs in chemical sciences in general, and to the practical benefits of organic synthesis, not only in laboratories but also in industry. The growth of this core technology has given rise to enormous economic potential in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, animal health products, agrochemicals, fungicides, pheromones, flavors, and fragrances. Practical asymmetric catalysis is of growing importance to a sustainable modern society, in which environmental protection is of increasing concern. This subject is an essential component of molecular science and technology in the 21st century. Most importantly, recent progress has spurred various interdisciplinary research efforts directed toward the creation of molecularly engineered novel functions. The origin and progress of my research in this field are discussed. 1 Prologue 2 Discovery of Asymmetric Catalysis by Chiral Organometallic Complexes 3 Asymmetric Hydrogenation in the Early Days 4 BINAP, a Beautiful Chiral Molecule 5 Asymmetric Synthesis of Menthol 6 Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Olefins by BINAP-Ruthenium Complexes 7 Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Simple Ketones by BINAP/Diamine-Ruthenium Complexes 8 Toward Cerebral Molecular Science 9 Prospects for the Future.