Professor Manfred Reetz wins Ryoji Noyori Prize
 

SSOCJ recognizes his contributions to enzyme catalysis and transition metal catalysis

Prof. Manfred Reetz, emeritus director and leader of the external group Biocatalysis at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, has been awarded the prestigious Ryoji Noyori Prize, endowed with €10,000. The Japanese Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry (SSOCJ) recognizes his groundbreaking contributions to both enzyme catalysis and transition metal catalysis.

For a long time, enzymes were rarely used by organic chemists. They often worked only with a narrow range of molecules, lacked sufficient stereoselectivity, or were too unstable for practical use. In the 1990s, Reetz and his group introduced the concept of directed evolution of stereoselective enzymes. By mimicking nature’s evolutionary process, they created libraries of enzyme variants, screened them for improved performance, and iteratively refined them. This approach transformed enzymes from fixed natural tools into tailor-made catalysts for applications in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, materials science, and green chemistry.

Reetz also made important contributions to transition metal catalysis. He developed new ligands and catalysts that improved control over stereoselectivity in reactions, advancing the field of asymmetric synthesis. 

The Ryoji Noyori Prize was established by the SSOCJ in 2002 to commemorate Professor Ryoji Noyori’s 2001 Nobel Prize. It is awarded annually to scientists for outstanding achievements in asymmetric synthetic chemistry.