For his seminal discovery of fundamental chemical principles that explain the impact of catalyst shape on its effectiveness in controlling chemical reactions, thus greatly simplifying the manufacture of pharmaceutically important compounds.
2005 Bower Science Theme: Catalysis
Henri Kagan is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of asymmetric catalysis. His discoveries have had far-reaching impact on the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Kagan studied at the Sorbonne in Paris before receiving his Ph.D. from the College of France in 1960. After a nearly 40-year career at the Universite Paris-Sud in Orsay, France, he now serves as an emeritus professor. His career has spanned the world, and he continues to be an active visiting lecturer, author, and enthusiastic mentor to young chemists.
Dr. Kagan has received the Silver Medal of the French National Scientific Research Center, the Prelog Medal, the August-Wihelm-von Hoffman Medal, the Nagoya Medal of Organic Chemistry, the Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry, the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, the Grand Prix de la Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie, the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, the JSPS Award for Eminent Scientists, and The Ryoji Noyori Prize. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences and is an honorary member of, or doctor honoris causa from several institutions.
Information as of April 2005