In addition to a large number of students, many members of other faculties and Austrian research institutions did not want to miss out on the chance of listening to Benjamin List’s engaging talk on "Universal Organocatalysts for a Better World".

Driving forces of modern synthetic organic chemistry

Benjamin List’s presentation detailed the development of his Nobel Prize-awarded work in the area of organocatalysis, from its infancy into the present day. The audience was shown how the fundamental idea that the three-dimensional structure of organic molecules can facilitate the selective synthesis of new compounds evolved into one of the main driving forces of modern synthetic organic chemistry.

The following reception, during which countless students took the opportunity of engaging Benjamin List in stimulating discussions, and a separate meeting between the Nobel Laureate and a group of young scientists, once again highlighted the vitality and vibrance of (organic) chemistry in the Vienna area.