In pharmaceutical research, this has often involved artificially recreating natural molecules with medicinal properties. This has led to many admirable molecular constructions, but these are generally time consuming and very expensive to produce. ‘This year’s Prize in Chemistry deals with not overcomplicating matters, instead working with what is easy and simple. Functional molecules can be built even by taking a straightforward route,’ said Johan Aqvist, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. Sharpless, who is now being awarded his second Nobel Prize in Chemistry, started the ball rolling.
