June 27, 2024
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

Winners of the 2024 Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Awards
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: HASHIMOTO Osamu) is
pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Award and theMitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Award for Creative Work.
The awards have been established in 2004 with the aim of contributing to the sustainable
development of chemistry and the chemical industry by recognizing researchers who have madeoutstanding achievements in catalysis science. The first awards were given in March 2005.
Now in its 10th iteration, this year’s awards again saw numerous applicants. Following thoroughexamination and consideration by our Selection Committee, the winners have been selected as listedbelow.
The award ceremony, as well as commemorative lectures by the winners, will be held in autumn 2024.
(For further details, please see the addendum below.)

Winner of the 2024 Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Award

Guangbin Dong

Weldon G. Brown Professor of Chemistry
University of Chicago

Winners of the 2024 Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Award for Creative Work

Keary Mark Engle

Professor
The Scripps Research InstituteMing Joo Koh

Associate Professor
National University of Singapore

Addendum
1. The winners and their achievements for the awards
Winner of the 2024 Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science AwardGuangbin Dong

Weldon G. Brown Professor of Chemistry
University of Chicago“Revolutionary development of the catalytic carbon-carbon bond activation, thepalladium/norbornene cooperative catalysis and carbonyl functionalization methods,
enabling streamlined and efficient organic synthesis”
Dr. Guangbin Dong has established an original and creative research program in thedevelopment of new catalytic methods for the activation and subsequent functionalization ofinert chemical bonds. In particular, his work on catalytic C–C bond activation, palladium(Pd)/norbornene cooperative catalysis, and atom-efficient carbonyl functionalization has hada significant impact on synthetic chemistry. These innovative research achievements havecontributed to the development of green chemistry processes and have the potential to makea significant impact in fields such as pharmaceutical and natural product synthesis, leading tothis award.
Winners of the 2024 Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Award for Creative Work

Keary M. Engle

Ming Joo KohProfessor
The Scripps Research Institute

Associate Professor
National University of Singapore“Discovery of selective, predictable, andmodular alkene functionalization
methods and the development of widelyused organometallic precatalysts”“Developing base metal catalysis andradical chemistry for sustainable organicsynthesis”

Using unique catalysis based on nickel (Ni)and palladium (Pd), Dr. Keary M. Engle hasachieved innovative functionalization ofunactivated alkenes, including 1,2difunctionalization, C(alkenyl)-Hfunctionalization and conjunctive crosscoupling. These highly controlled reactions
are facilitated by specially designed directing
groups or, in some cases, even in theirabsence. Many of the novel Ni(0) precatalysts developed by his group have beencommercialized and are now widely used invarious catalytic applications. Thesesignificant contributions to the field ofcatalysis science make him a deserving
recipient of the Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis
Science Award for Creative Work in 2024.

Dr. Ming Joo Koh has developed directing
group-free selective cross-coupling andfunctionalization reactions of alkenes
catalyzed by complexes of earth abundant
metals such as iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), andcopper (Cu). Furthermore, he has also
expanded his research into C-glycosylation
using Fe- and Ni-catalysts and has
succeeded in synthesizing a variety of
unique sugar derivatives. Further
developments are expected in future.

2. Award ceremony and commemorative lectures by the winners
Mitsui Chemicals will be holding “Catalysis Science Forum”, where the awardees will
deliver commemorative lectures that will be followed by the award ceremony. The forum willtake place as a part of the “14th CSJ Chemistry Festa 2024” held by the Chemical Societyof Japan.
１．Date: October 24, 2024
２．Venue: Tower Hall Funabori, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan