Ryōji Noyori facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ryōji Noyori
|
|
|---|---|
Noyori in 2013
|
|
| Born | September 3, 1938 |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Alma mater | Kyoto University |
| Awards |
|
| Scientific career | |
| Fields |
|
| Institutions | |
| Doctoral advisor | Hitoshi Nozaki |
| Other academic advisors | Elias J. Corey |
Ryōji Noyori (野依 良治, Noyori Ryōji, born September 3, 1938) is a famous Japanese chemist. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001. This award recognized his amazing work on how to make chemical reactions more efficient and specific.
Noyori shared half of the prize with William S. Knowles. They both studied how to create specific mirror-image molecules using a process called chirally catalyzed hydrogenations. The other half of the prize went to K. Barry Sharpless for his work on similar reactions.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Ryōji Noyori was born in Kobe, Japan. When he was young, he was very interested in physics. A famous physicist named Hideki Yukawa, who won a Nobel Prize, was a friend of his father. This friendship helped spark Ryōji's early interest in science.
Later, he became fascinated with chemistry. He saw a presentation about nylon at an industrial fair. This showed him how chemistry could "produce high value from almost nothing." This idea really excited him.
University Studies
Ryōji Noyori went to Kyoto University. He studied Industrial Chemistry there and earned his first degree in 1961. He then continued his studies and received a Master's degree.
From 1963 to 1967, he worked as a researcher at Kyoto University. He also taught in the research group of Hitoshi Nozaki. In 1967, he earned his Doctor of Engineering degree from Kyoto University.
Becoming a Professor
In 1968, Noyori became an associate professor at Kyoto University. He then spent some time doing research at Harvard University with Elias J. Corey. After this, he returned to Nagoya University in Japan. He became a full professor there in 1972.
He has stayed at Nagoya University for a long time. From 2003 to 2015, he also served as the president of RIKEN. RIKEN is a very large national research organization in Japan.
Important Research
Ryōji Noyori strongly believes in the power of catalysis. Catalysis is like using a special helper molecule (a catalyst) to speed up a chemical reaction without being used up itself. He also believes in "green chemistry." This means making chemical processes that are better for the environment.
In one article, he said that being able to create simple and useful chemical processes is "essential for our survival." He also believes that "Research is for nations and mankind, not for researchers themselves." He encourages scientists to get involved in politics. He thinks researchers should help guide public opinion and government rules to build a "sustainable society" for the future.
Asymmetric Hydrogenation
Noyori is most famous for a process called asymmetric hydrogenation. This is a special type of chemical reaction. It helps create molecules that are mirror images of each other. Think of your left and right hands; they are mirror images but not the same. In chemistry, these are called enantiomers. Often, only one of these mirror images works as a medicine or has a specific effect.
He used special catalysts made from metals like rhodium and ruthenium. These catalysts often included a special molecule called BINAP.
Real-World Uses
Noyori's methods have been very useful in making important products:
- Naproxen: This is a common medicine used to reduce pain and swelling. Noyori's method helps make a very pure form of it.
- Levofloxacin: This is an antibacterial medicine. It is also made using Noyori's asymmetric hydrogenation method.
- Menthol: This is what gives mint its cool feeling. A company uses Noyori's method to make thousands of tons of menthol each year. This menthol is very pure and has the right "mirror image" shape.
He also worked on making N,N-dimethylformamide. This is a chemical used in many industries. He developed a way to make it from simple ingredients like hydrogen, dimethylamine, and carbon dioxide.
Awards and Honors
Many awards and honors have recognized Ryōji Noyori's important contributions to chemistry. The The Ryoji Noyori Prize is even named after him!
He has received honorary doctorates from universities in France and Germany. In 2005, he became a Foreign Member of the Royal Society in the UK.
Here are some of the other awards he has received:
- 1978 – Matsunaga prize
- 1982 – Chuniichi Culture Award
- 1985 – The Chemical Society of Japan Award
- 1991 – John G. Kirkwood Award
- 1992 – Asahi Prize
- 1993 – Tetrahedron Prize
- 1995 – Japan Academy Prize (academics)
- 1997 – Arthur C. Cope Award
- 1997 – Chirality Medal
- 1999 – King Faisal International Prize
- 2001 – Wolf Prize in Chemistry
- 2001 – Nobel Prize for Chemistry
- 2009 – Lomonosov Gold Medal
Images for kids
-
Noyori and Shinya Yamanaka at the 50th All Japan Rugby Football Championship ceremony
-
A diagram showing the steps to make menthol, a process improved by Noyori's work.
See also
In Spanish: Ryōji Noyori para niños
- List of Japanese Nobel laureates
- List of Nobel laureates affiliated with Kyoto University
