AsiaChem | Chemistry in Japan | December 2021 Volume 2 Issue 1

www.asiachem.news December 2021 | 95 methodology, which employs chiral BINAP/ transition metal catalysts, particularly Ru, represented a breakthrough in asymmetric hydrogenation. The reaction is rapid, very general, and highly productive. These achievements, together with W. S. Knowles and K. B. Sharpless were recognized by the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Although the Nobel Prize is the highest honor of any scientist, we need to examine the impact of my achievements on society and the economy. I n 1992, the US Food and Dr ug Administration set out guidelines for “racemic switches,” contributing to significant improvements in medicine. The new regulations strongly urged pharmaceutical companies to manufacture and commercialize enantiomerically pure pharmaceuticals. Our contribution to asymmetric catalysis was a crucial contributor to the policy change in the USA. Furthermore, our asymmetric hydrogenation technology with our fruitful cooperation with the industry also contributed to attaining SDG 12, SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). At the beginning of the 21st century, Sumitomo Chemical has established the Olyset Net technology, acknowledging the SDGs as its corporate concept. Using our asymmetric catalysis concept, Sumitomo’s researchers synthesized permethrin, a new chiral insecticide containing a cyclopropane group, and incorporated it into high-density polyethylene fiber tomanufacture Olyset Nets. The new material allows for a slow release of the pyrethroid over five years. Every year, malaria infects 300-500 million people by the Anopheles mosquito, andmore than 1 million, mostly children, die of the disease. Sumitomo decided to join forces with the WHO’s “Roll Back Malaria” campaign in Tanzania and provided the Olyset Net technology to Tanzania free of charge, thus creating more than 7000 new jobs and significantly improving school facilities. Related to this is the story on the Sakura Girls Secondary School (SGSS), which opened in 2016, with the support of ODA (Official Development Assistance) and JICA (Japan International Corporation Agency). I highly respect Professor Sumiko Iwao (1935–2018), a central figure establishing this school in Tanzania, not far from Kilimanjaro. Tanzania is still a Male-dominated country, with minimal opportunities for girls. Thus, the school’s main objective is to train women to become teachers, scientists, and technocrats. And teachers from Japan lead the efforts to encourage Tanzanian girls to develop independent careers in science and mathematics and lead their country’s future development. I want to emphasize that I have not contributed personally to achieving the SDGs. The credit should go to the enthusiastic Sumitomo researchers and engineers and the bold decision of its CEO, Hiromasa Yonekura (1937–2018), who was a good friend of mine. He was a visionary manager of the company who also promoted Japanese governmental initiatives worldwide. The hear-warming story of the SGSS has taught me something new and significant on how chemistry may benefit society. How and why did you start exploring asymmetric hydrogenation, which eventually brought you to Stockholm? In 1966 when I was still in Kyoto, we discovered an asymmetric carbene reaction through purely curiosity-driven research. We reacted styrene and ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of chiral Schiff base-Cu catalyst. That experiment represented the birth of asymmetric catalysis using chiral organometallic catalysts, which is quite common these days. Although we achieved less than 10%ee, which ismeaningless for synthesis, that experiment was probably the most exciting event in my entire academic career. In 2001, when I received the Wolf Prize together wi th Henr i Kagan and Barry Sharpless, I was delighted and honored that this small discovery was cited as one of the reasons for recognition by the most prestigious prize in Israel. That case teaches me that it is important to recognize the significant achievements of young researchers at their early stage, even if they seem premature or based on stupid ideas. I was 27 years old at the time of my discovery. Immediately after that, I moved to Nagoya and then to Harvard to work under E. J. Corey, so I put aside that exciting chemistry. Duringmy stay at Harvard, Corey askedme to selectively hydrogenate one of the two olefinic bonds in a PGF2α derivative to produce the corresponding PGF1α. That experimental work encouraged me to initiate asymmetric hydrogenation as soon as I returned to Nagoya. Eventually, my 1966 discovery of a primitive asymmetric carbene reaction, which was described in a then overlooked publication, turned out to be a starting point of a long journey from Kyoto to Stockholm. Tadatoshi Aratani, one of the students who worked in the same laboratory in Kyoto in 1966, later joined the Sumitomo Chemical Company, where he developed an excellent chiral Cu catalyst. He established a largescale synthesis of chrysanthemic esters and a building block of cilastatin, an in vivo stabilizer of carbapenemantibiotic produced in the USA by Merck. Such technological development in the 1980s became a logical result of our initial work. Less apparent results are the links to societal implications beyond science and technology, as reflected by SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 4 (quality education), and SDG 5 (gender equality), in addition to the previously mentioned SDGs 3, 9, 12, and the important SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). My initial discovery half a century ago in a poorly equipped laboratory inKyoto has taught me that a tiny chemical seed could eventually lead to a significant contribution to the global welfare of all humanity. Consequently, the scientific community and industry, government, and many other sectors should always discuss the societal implications of science and technology and the mechanisms to catalyze these beneficial implications. How would you like to conclude our conversation? I have come to this interview to tell you my own story, and I am just one of many other Asian scientists. Although every one of us looks like a tiny dot on this planet, I can see fine red threads connecting us and all scientific knowledge. In today’s global society, and with the contributions of many countries and diverse social sectors, even small research outcomes may contribute to realizing the SDGs. Therefore, I would like to send a concise message to the young generation, “Think Globally, Act Locally.” Modern civilization appears to face challenging times. And the science community needs to reconfirm the significance of open-science policies to avoid catastrophic consequences. Because science is a longterm, limitless endeavor, we must ensure the solidarity of researchers. Moreover, inter-sector and international collaboration will be critical in accelerating research and development to combat the difficulties we face. Earlier I said, “Science is one.” But now, I would like to say, “The world is one.” The 20th century was an era of international competition, symbolized by war and economic rivalry. In the 21st century, however, we will have to cooperate globally to survive our species within the limits of this planet. Whatever we do, wemust do our best tomove in this direction. I believe that my views represent many other senior scientists of the Asian region, and I hope you share these values with me. Thank you for inviting me to this important arena of AsiaChem. ◆ Noyori has been enchanted by the molecular beauty of chiral BINAPtransition metal catalysts over four decades.

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