Dowpharma, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, awarded Michael Krische of the University of Texas at Austin, the Dowpharma Prize Lecture for Creativity in Chiral Chemistry.
Krische presented his work, "Formation of C-C Bonds via Catalytic Hydrogenation" at Modern Synthetic Methods and Chiral USA in Philadelphia, US.
"This is a remarkable discovery, and we are pleased to provide Professor Krische with the opportunity to present his work to scientists and professionals in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries," said Mark Cassidy, business director Small Molecules, Dowpharma.
"When developed further, this technology could allow chemists to use inexpensive feedstocks, such as acetylene and styrene, to manufacture more complex chiral molecules," he added.
A member of the independent judging panel said, "Krische's work is a true paradigm shift that I believe will have far-reaching consequences in the synthesis of complicated molecules."