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NOBEL 2022 RÖPORTAJ

Sharing this award with you, K. Barry
Sharpless was the person who proposed in 2001

the idea of joining molecules using chemical
clasps. Was this idea the basis or inspiration
for your Nobel Prize-winning work? And what

will be the applications of your award-winning
work in life?

No, I believe several groups worked on
development of “Molecular Lego” in 1995-2000.
We applied and were funded by Danish National

Research Foundation in 1997 to develop green
Quantitative Chemical Transformation (QCT-

reactions) for efficient organic chemistry on
solid support, which is essentially the same
as click reactions. I believe the time was ripe

for this development, which is also why click
chemistry was simultaneously developed in
both laboratories. Christian W. Tornøe was a

talented young PhD student at the time and the
CuAAC reaction occurred as a side reaction in
the QCT reaction he was working on in 2000. We

investigated this reaction in great detail and
in 2001 Christian and his fellow student Caspar

Christensen could present the reaction at the
APS in San Diego. Like chemists all over the world
we use the CuAAC reaction on a daily basis

for induction of protein and peptide structure,
for attachment of molecular functionality to

surfaces and polymers and for producing
catalysts, enzymes and multifunctional
molecules. Worldwide, research into new polymer

materials, new paints and surface coatings and
ongoing, so all in all, there is a bright future for
“Click Chemistries” ahead

İNOVASYON KÜLTÜRÜ • 115