The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 was awarded jointly to Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan “for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis”. Of course Cinchona Alkaloids played a major role in those findings. This breakthrough method has revolutionized the synthesis of molecules and is widely used in drug development and green chemistry. Benjamin List (Germany) developed a new class of organocatalysts, which are small organic molecules that can drive chemical reactions in a highly selective manner. David W.C. MacMillan (United Kingdom/USA) independently developed a complementary approach using a different type of organocatalyst. Their work has had significant impacts on both chemistry and industry, making chemical reactions more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective.

List as well as MacMillan are more than 20 times cited with their publications in the Chiral Catalyst Search of Buchler, because of their work with Cinchona Alkaloids.