Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS)

  Last updated on 26 Apr., 2002      

The Noyori Doctrine

Seiji Suga
Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry
Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University

Editor’s note:professor Ryoji Noyori has won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for 2001, together with Professor K. Barry Sharpless and Dr. William S. Knowles, for the development of catalytic asymmetric synthesis. Professor Ryoji Noyori is a Professor of Chemistry at Nagoya University since 1972, and Director of the Research Center for Materials Science at Nagoya University since 2000, More information on his work can be found on the website: http://www-noyori.os.chem.nagoya-u.ac.jp. One of his former student, Dr. Seiji Suga in the Department of Synthetic Chemistry & Biological Chemistry at Kyoto University, presents here a very interesting description about his student life working with the Professor.

On October 10, 2001, I got the news that Prof. Ryoji Noyori of Nagoya University had won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2001 for the development of catalytic asymmetric synthesis. He and Dr. William S. Knowles were awarded the prize for their work on chirally catalysed hydrogenation reactions.K.Barry Sharpless of the Scripps Research Institute was also honored, for his work on chirally catalysed oxidation reactions. My heart leaped to hear the news and many memories beyond description welled up in me. 

If I had to describe him in one word, I would say Prof. Noyori is an extremely strict person. He is very strict in research, with staff and students, and with himself. Especially in research he will on no account compromise. If in there is any inconsistency in our results, we have to try again and again to make all the results consistent. As a result, publication in a journal is frequently delayed, and this causes stress. However, this making no concession absolutely ensures good pieces of perfect research. He always said His life is for chemistry 120%. An exciting discussion with him often continued late into the night. Although young students including me sometimes trembled at his strong character, the sincere attitude to research strongly affected us in our research style and quality. His guiding principle is and will continue to be our greatest asset.

Prof. Noyori is charismatic even in everyday life. He looks as if he had a halo around his head. I was always tense in front of him and had difficulty expressing myself. I and my wife,Keiko, got married through the good offices of Prof. and Mrs. Noyori. I have to confess that I could not eat any of the food at our wedding party, because Prof. Noyori was sitting beside me. You can see how tense I was in our wedding photo.

I have been strongly influenced by Prof. Noyori. Probably every student from the Noyori group feels the same. As an academic who received his excellent guidance, I strongly recommend young students to adopt the Noyori Doctrine, a strict and honest approach to scientific research. And I sincerely hope that Prof. Noyori will go on and on being charismatic from now on. Congratulations, Professor !

	In the wedding ceremony, from left to right: Prof. Noyori, Dr. Suga, Mrs. Suga, and Mrs. Noyori

Back to FACS Newsletter TOC(2002/1)