The 2016 Nobel Prize for Chemistry recognises members of our community
The 2016 Nobel Prize for Chemistry has been awarded to Professor Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Professor Sir J. Fraser Stoddart CChem HonFRSC HonFRSE FRS and Professor Dr Bernard L. Feringa CChem FRSC for the design and production of molecular machines.
These nanosized structures are reminiscent of everyday machines, such as switches, pumps and assembly lines, but their movements are governed by the rules of chemistry instead of Newtonian mechanics. Other examples include a molecular lift that can raise itself 0.7 nanometres above a surface, a molecular shuttle, and even a 4-wheel-drive nanocar.
The structures are fascinating in their own right, but their design will have far-reaching real-world implications: their tiny size and controllable movements mean they could be used in pharmaceuticals, for example to deliver a drug directly and accurately to cancer cells.
Royal Society of Chemistry chief executive, Dr Robert Parker said: "This is fantastic news and good to see such a core area of chemistry receiving such attention around the world.
"Each of this year’s winners have made a significant contribution to the Royal Society of Chemistry and our community, not least as chairs of a number of our journals and other committees.
"Their inspirational chemistry has caught the imagination of so many people, fascinated by the ability to design functionality into molecules at an incredibly detailed level.
"Molecular motors are an ideal topic for outreach and getting people interested in chemistry. They give us an insight into the molecular world through a simple idea that everybody can understand – the mechanism of motors."
Building an idea
Jean-Pierre Sauvage took the first step to the creation of molecular machines in 1983, linking two ring-shaped molecules together to make a catenane. Joining two molecules together using a mechanical bond rather than a chemical one was a first and crucial to building machines with parts that can move relative to one another.
Fraser Stoddart took this idea to the next level in 1991 when he developed the rotaxane, a molecular ring threaded onto a molecular axle – the ring could move up and down the axle in a controlled fashion, and the rotaxane became the basis of the first molecule-based computer chip.
Finally Ben Feringa put all these together to develop a molecular motor that was powerful enough to rotate a glass cylinder 10,000 times bigger than itself.
Playing a huge part in the chemistry community
As Robert outlines, the three winners have played a large role in the chemistry community for many years.
Two years ago Fraser Stoddart was named winner of our Centenary Prize for developing the field of mechanical bond chemistry, the work for which he has received the Nobel accolade today. He is also a member of our magazine Chemistry World's advisory board.
Jean-Pierre Sauvage is another former winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize, his award coming in 1999. On the occasion of his 65th birthday, in 2009, he was the subject of a themed issue in his honour in our publication Chemical Society Reviews, which included an editorial written by Fraser Stoddart.
He has also been chair of the editorial board for the ChemSocRev journal and has published articles with us over many years.
Ben Feringa is currently a member of our governing Council. He was founding editor of our journal Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, and is now chair of the Chemistry World Editorial Board.
He was the winner of our Organic Stereochemistry Award, in 2011, for his crucial achievements in the fields of stereochemistry, asymmetric catalysis and molecular motors.
Our chief executive, Robert Parker, adds: "On a personal note, I'm hugely pleased to see Ben Feringa receive this recognition. Ben makes a fantastic contribution to our Council and is simply a lovely person to work with.
"He is thoughtful, generous with his time and expertise, and is always willing to give a considered and constructive opinion."