The two researchers who developed a new tool for use in the construction of molecules have won a Nobel Prize with a discovery that could transform toll processing, the development of medication and new technologies.
The concept of organocatalysis, originally discovered independently by both Benjamin List and David MacMillan, is the third type of catalyst that has been discovered that can build up small organic molecules.
Catalysts are substances that can start, control and speed up chemical reactions but without becoming part of the final end product.
The most common example of a catalyst is the enzymes found in the human body, which break down different types of material in our digestive system and convert them into the compounds we need to sustain life.
Enzymes are sometimes used in the production of biofuels but the difficulty and sensitivity when using them have made them an expensive prospect.
You also see catalysts used in metalwork, with catalytic converters containing platinum and other metals being used to convert poisonous and polluting exhaust gases into less toxic molecules.
In 2000, whilst working in separate laboratories, Dr List and Dr MacMillan started developing a third type of catalyst, an organic catalyst built on a stable framework of carbon atoms, often with elements such as oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur and nitrogen attached.
These materials are significantly cheaper than either of the other two types of catalysts, which has led to many metal catalysts being replaced with organic ones, which helps to improve the sustainability of certain manufacturing processes.