Ryoji Noyori

Infobox Scientist
name = Ryoji Noyori


image_size = 180px
birth_date = birth date and age|1938|09|03|df=yes
birth_place = Kobe, Japan
nationality = Japan
field = Chemistry
work_institutions =
alma_mater =
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known_for =
prizes = Nobel Prize for Chemistry (2001)

nihongo|Ryoji Noyori|野依良治|Noyori Ryōji (born September 3, 1938) is a Japanese chemist. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001. Noyori shared half of the prize with William S. Knowles for the study of chirally catalyzed hydrogenations; the second half of the Prize went to K. Barry Sharpless for his study in chirally catalyzed oxidation reactions (Sharpless epoxidation).

Biography

Ryoji Noyori was born in Kobe, Japan. He became fascinated with chemistry at age twelve, after hearing a presentation on nylon. He saw the power of chemistry as being the ability to "make high values from almost nothing". He became a student at Kyoto University, working as an instructor in the research group of Hotosi Nozaki before being appointed associate professor at Nagoya University. After postdoctoral work with Elias J. Corey at Harvard he returned to Nagoya, becoming a full professor in 1972. He is still based at Nagoya, though he is also now president of RIKEN, a multi-site national research initiative with an annual budget of $800 million. In 2005, Noyori became Honorary Doctor at Technical University of Munich and RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Research

Noyori believes strongly in the power of catalysis and of green chemistry; in a recent article he argues for the pursuit of "practical elegance in synthesis". [R. Noyori, "Pursuing practical elegance in chemical synthesis", Chemical Communications, 2005 ("14"), 1807 - 1811. [http://www.rsc.org/publishing/journals/CC/article.asp?doi=b502713f Abstract] ] In this article he states that "our ability to devise straightforward and practical chemical syntheses is indispensable to the survival of our species." Elsewhere he has said that "Research is for nations and mankind, not for researchers themselves." He encourages scientists to be politically active- "Researchers must spur public opinions and government policies toward constructing the sustainable society in the 21st century." [Keynote address, June 23 2005, at the "Second International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry", Washington DC.]

Noyori is currently a chairman of the Education Rebuilding Council, which was set up by Japan's PM Shinzo Abe after he came to power in 2006. [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070120a1.htm]

Noyori is most famous for asymmetric hydrogenation using as catalysts complexes of rhodium and ruthenium, particularly those based on the BINAP ligand. (See Noyori asymmetric hydrogenation) Asymmetric hydrogenation of an alkene in the presence of (("S")-BINAP)Ru(OAc)₂ is used for the commercial production of enantiomerically pure (97% ee) naproxen, used as an anti-inflammatory drug. The anti-bacterial agent levofloxacin is manufactured by asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones in the presence of a Ru(II) BINAP halide complex.

He has also worked on other asymmetric processes. Each year 3000 tonnes (after new expansion) of menthol are produced (in 94% ee) by Takasago International Co., using Noyori's method for isomerisation of allylic amines.

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rect 6 14 131 92 myrcenerect 136 46 201 63 diethylaminerect 468 110 628 180 citronellalrect 387 112 458 135 zinc bromiderect 95 97 223 209 menthol

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More recently he and Jessop have developed an industrial process for the manufacture of "N,N"-dimethylformamide from hydrogen, dimethylamine and supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of RutheniumChlorine₂(PMe₃)₄ as catalyst. [ P. G. Jessop; W. Leitner (Eds.), "Chemical Synthesis using Supercritical Fluids", VCH/Wiley, Weinheim, 1999.]

Publications

*"Organic synthesis in Japan : past, present, and future : in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan" / editor in chief, Ryoji Noyori (1992)
*"Asymmetric catalysis in organic synthesis"(1994)

ee also

* The Ryoji Noyori Prize

References

External links

* [http://nobelprize.org/chemistry/laureates/2001/noyori-lecture.pdf Ryoji Noyori Nobel lecture (2001)]
* [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2001/noyori-autobio.html Autobiography]
* [http://www.jce.divched.org/JCEWWW/Features/eChemists/document.php?chemid=47 Biographical snapshots: Ryoji Noyori,] "Journal of Chemical Education" web site.
* [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/matthey/pmr/2002/00000046/00000002/art00011 T. J. Colacot, "Platinum Metals Review" 2002, "46(2)", 82-83.]