David MacMillan Receives Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Princeton University professor David W.C. MacMillan has been awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis.”

He shares the award with Benjamin List of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.

“Building molecules is a difficult art. Benjamin List and David MacMillan are awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction: organocatalysis. This has had a great impact on pharmaceutical research, and has made chemistry greener,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences noted in announcing the award today. The prize amount is 10 million Swedish kroner, or about $1.14 million.

The laureate joins a number of other Princeton faculty and alumni who have been awarded Nobel Prizes, including Syukuro Manabe, who won the Nobel in physics yesterday.

Members of the media: If you have a request about the Nobel Prize winner, please send an email to [email protected] with the words “Nobel Prize” in the subject line. Check the University homepage for updates throughout the day. Images of MacMillan and a C.V. are available for use by media.

This story will be updated throughout the day at:
https://www.princeton.edu/news/2021/10/06/princetons-david-macmillan-receives-nobel-prize-chemistry