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Takasago's Prof. Noyori Won the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

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On October 10, 2001, Takasago's outside director, Professor Ryoji Noyori, a professor at Nagoya University, won the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "work on chirally catalyzed hydrogenation reactions."

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences highly evaluated his pioneering research and awarded him with the 2001 Nobel Prize, jointly with William S. Knowles and K. Barry Sharpless of the United States.

His research leads to the efficient chemical synthesis of useful substances, which had formerly been regarded as impossible except by biochemical reactions.

The currently established method of manufacturing l-menthol by the asymmetric synthesis method, was industrialized in 1983 for the first time in the world. Through joint research by a study group led by Professor Noyori, as well as experts from Osaka University and Takasago.

Prof. Noyori is a chemist who is active on the global stage, he took office as an outside director of Takasago in June 2001, and is supporting the company's management from the technical standpoint.  His theories and experience as a world-renowned researcher will undoubtedly be of value to Takasago's fine chemical businesses in the future.