Ryōji Noyori developed chiral catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation, in which addition of hydrogen preferentially produces one enantiomer. This work was recognized by the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.[ref]
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2001/press-release/. Official announcement: chirally catalysed hydrogenation
The catalyst creates competing reaction paths with different activation free energies. It can thus favour one molecular handedness while being regenerated, linking catalysis with stereoselectivity.
Portrait of Ryōji Noyori
. 日本学士院ホームページ (Japan Academy). CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source.
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