The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2001

William S. Knowles

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Prize share: 1/4

Ryoji Noyori

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Prize share: 1/4

K. Barry Sharpless

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Prize share: 1/2

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2001 was divided, one half jointly to William S. Knowles and Ryoji Noyori "for their work on chirally catalysed hydrogenation reactions" and the other half to K. Barry Sharpless "for his work on chirally catalysed oxidation reactions."

To cite this section
MLA style: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2001. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2018. Tue. 20 Nov 2018. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2001/summary/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Learn more

Nobel Prizes 2018

This year 12 new laureates have been awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. Their work and discoveries range from cancer therapy and laser physics to developing proteins that can solve humankind’s chemical problems. The work of the 2018 Nobel Laureates also included combating war crimes, as well as integrating innovation and climate with economic growth. Find out more.
Nobel prizes burgundy 2018

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.