Ben Feringa

2.1. Childhood and Education

Feringa was born in Barger-Compascuum, a village located in the Bourtange moor directly on the border with Germany, in the province of Drenthe, Netherlands. He is the second of ten siblings in a Catholic family. His parents were Geert Feringa (1918-1993), a farmer, and Lies Feringa née Hake (1924-2013). He spent his formative years on the family farm. Feringa has both Dutch and German ancestry, with the settler Johann Gerhard Bekel among his ancestors.

He pursued his higher education at the University of Groningen, where he earned his MSc degree with distinction in 1974. He continued his studies at the same university, completing his PhD in 1978. His doctoral thesis was titled "Asymmetric oxidation of phenols. Atropisomerism and optical activity", under the supervision of Professor Hans Wijnberg.

3.1. Academic Career

Following a brief period in industry, Feringa returned to his alma mater, the University of Groningen, where he was appointed as a lecturer in organic chemistry in 1984. His dedication and significant contributions led to his promotion to Full Professor in 1988, succeeding his former supervisor, Professor Wijnberg. He currently holds the prestigious position of Jacobus van 't Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry within the University of Groningen. Additionally, since 2008, he has served as an Academy Professor of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), where he also held the roles of vice-president and Chair of the Board of the Science Division.

3.2. Industry Experience

After completing his PhD, Ben Feringa spent a short period working at Royal Dutch Shell in both the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. This industrial experience provided him with practical insights before he transitioned into his extensive academic career. Later in his career, Feringa also co-founded Selact, a contract research company. Initially, Selact focused on providing services in organic synthesis, but it later expanded its capabilities to include the development of high-throughput screening methods. Selact is now part of Kiadis.

4.1. Molecular Machines and Motors

Feringa's most celebrated research achievements, which culminated in the Nobel Prize, revolve around the design and synthesis of molecular machines. His work in the 1990s, rooted in stereochemistry, led to significant advancements in photochemistry. In 1999, he achieved the remarkable feat of creating the world's first monodirectional light-driven molecular rotary motor. This breakthrough demonstrated the ability to control molecular motion with light, mimicking functions observed in nature, such as the unidirectional rotation of retinal in rhodopsin.

Further building on this foundation, Feringa's group developed a molecular car, famously known as a nanocar, in 2011. This four-wheeled molecule was designed to move on a solid surface when subjected to electric current from a STM tip. The development of the nanocar garnered international attention, being highlighted in newspapers and magazines worldwide, and was recognized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences as one of the top ten major scientific discoveries globally in 2011. These pioneering works laid essential groundwork for the future discipline of molecular nanotechnology, paving the way for the creation of nanomachines and nanorobots powered by molecular motors. Feringa's innovative approach to designing and synthesizing nanomolecular machines, particularly molecular switches and synthetic molecular motors, has opened up novel avenues for developing complex and dynamic chemical systems with precisely controlled functions.

4.2. Molecular Switches and Nanotechnology

Feringa's research significantly advanced the field of molecular switches, which are fundamental components of molecular machines. His early work in 1991 introduced chiroptical molecular switches, based on the design of the first chiral overcrowded alkenes. This was followed by demonstrations of optically controlled molecular switching and the amplification of chirality in mesoscopic systems in 1996.

These molecular switches have found diverse applications across various scientific and technological domains. In materials science, they have been used to create responsive materials and surfaces, enabling the controlled adhesion of photon-driven molecular motors. They have also been integrated into liquid crystals, allowing for unidirectional rotary motion in a liquid crystalline environment and even color tuning. In optoelectronics, Feringa's group developed electrochromic devices utilizing photoswitchable sexithiophene-based molecular wires.

Beyond materials, his research extended into biotechnology and medicine. Photo-switchable DNA has been explored as a molecular memory stick, and responsive gels and polymers have been developed. A significant application is the creation of light-switchable protein channels, which function as nanoscale drug delivery systems. These systems have potential uses in anion sensing, responsive catalysts, and photopharmacology. Furthermore, his work has led to entirely novel approaches using responsive drugs for anticancer agents, antibiotic treatment, addressing antibiotic resistance, and controlling biofilm formation.

Feringa's group also explored interfacing molecular motors with the macroscopic world. They demonstrated that molecular motors could function while chemically bound to surfaces through surface assembly on gold nanoparticles (2005) and macroscopic gold films (2010). This was a crucial step towards future nanomachines like molecular conveyor belts. Experiments involving doping liquid crystals with molecular motors showed that the motion of these motors could be harnessed to make macroscopic objects rotate on a liquid crystal film and drive molecular systems out-of-equilibrium. Several of these discoveries were highlighted by Chemical & Engineering News as among the most important chemical discoveries of their respective years.

4.3. Catalysis and Stereochemistry

Feringa's early career was largely dedicated to homogeneous catalysis and oxidation catalysis, with a particular focus on stereochemistry. He made significant contributions to the field of enantioselective catalysis, including the development of the monophos ligand used in asymmetric hydrogenation. His work also encompassed asymmetric conjugate additions involving organometallic reagents, including highly reactive organolithium reagents, as well as organic photochemistry and stereochemistry.

More recently, Feringa's work has explored the use of phosphoramidites as privileged ligands in asymmetric catalysis. His research group achieved excellent stereocontrol in copper-catalyzed C-C bond formation, leading to a breakthrough in catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition. In a notable development in 2021, they utilized phosphoramidites as starting reagents for asymmetric C-P bond formation. Traditionally, external chiral ligands are used for chiral induction in C-P coupling reactions, but the competitive coordination of initial and final phosphorus compounds with metal catalysts, along with an external chiral ligand, can reduce enantioselectivity. By hypothesizing that BINOL-containing phosphoramidites, possessing intrinsic chiral ligand properties and simultaneously serving as a substrate, would enhance stereoselectivity in C-P coupling processes with aryl compounds, they successfully confirmed this through experimental data.

His broader research interests also include the use of chiral electromagnetic radiation to generate enantioselectivity, the study of low molecular weight gelators, imaging porphyrins with STM, drying-induced self-assembly, advanced organic synthesis, CD spectroscopy, and exploring the origins of chirality, including the possibility of an extraterrestrial source. Furthermore, he has investigated various aspects of surface science, such as surface modification, surface energy control, and porphyrin allayers.

4.4. Applications of Molecular Technologies

The molecular technologies developed by Ben Feringa's research group have found a wide array of applications across various scientific and engineering disciplines.

In the realm of **materials science**, his molecular switches have been instrumental in creating responsive materials and surfaces. These materials can change their properties in response to external stimuli, such as light, enabling precise control over their behavior. For instance, the controlled adhesion of photon-driven molecular motors to surfaces has been demonstrated, with studies focusing on how interfacial interactions influence molecular motion.

His work has also significantly impacted **liquid crystal** technology. By incorporating molecular motors into liquid crystalline environments, Feringa's team achieved unidirectional rotary motion, which can be harnessed for applications like color tuning in displays. Furthermore, doping liquid crystals with molecular motors has shown the potential to make macroscopic objects rotate on a liquid crystal film and drive molecular systems out of equilibrium, opening doors for new types of active materials.

In **optoelectronics**, Feringa's group developed electrochromic devices that utilize photoswitchable sexithiophene-based molecular wires. These devices can change their optical properties in response to electrical signals, offering potential for advanced display technologies and optical sensors.

The field of **biotechnology** has also benefited from his molecular technologies. Photo-switchable DNA has been explored for its potential as a molecular memory stick, offering new paradigms for data storage at the molecular level. Responsive gels and polymers, whose properties can be dynamically altered, are being developed for various bio-related applications. A particularly promising area is the creation of light-switchable protein channels, which act as nanoscale valves for precise drug delivery systems. These nanovalves can selectively release therapeutic agents in response to light, enabling targeted treatments.

Beyond drug delivery, these molecular technologies are being applied in **medical and pharmaceutical contexts** for anion sensing, responsive catalysts, and photopharmacology. This includes novel approaches using responsive drugs as anticancer agents, for improved antibiotic treatment, to combat antibiotic resistance, and to control biofilm formation, offering new strategies against persistent infections.

Feringa's research has also focused on bridging the gap between the molecular and **macroscopic worlds**. His work on interfacing molecular motors with surfaces, such as gold nanoparticles and macroscopic gold films, has demonstrated that these motors retain their function even when chemically bound to a surface. This is a crucial step towards developing complex nanomachines like molecular conveyor belts, which could be used in future manufacturing processes at the nanoscale.

5.1. Nobel Prize

In 2016, Ben Feringa was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Fraser Stoddart. The prize recognized their pioneering work "for the design and synthesis of molecular machines." This prestigious award underscored the revolutionary nature of their research in creating the world's smallest machines, capable of controlled movements at the molecular level. Notably, Feringa had been considered a candidate for the Nobel Prize for some time, even being included in a list of potential laureates in an episode of The Simpsons in 2010.

5.2. Major Scientific and Academic Awards

Feringa's scientific contributions have been recognized with a wide array of significant prizes and medals:

• Pino Gold Medal (Italian Chemical Society, 1997)
• Novartis Chemistry Lectureship Award (2000-2001)
• Körber European Science Prize (2003)
• Arun Guthikonda Memorial Lecture & Award (Columbia University, 2003)
• Spinoza Prize (2004)
• Prelog Gold Medal (ETH-Zürich, Switzerland, 2005)
• Solvias Ligand Contest Award (shared with John Hartwig, Yale University, 2005)
• James Flack Norris Award in Physical Organic Chemistry (American Chemical Society, 2007)
• European Research Council Advanced Grant (2008, 2016)
• Paracelsus Award (Swiss Chemical Society, 2008)
• Chirality Medal (2010)
• Organic Stereochemistry Award (Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, 2011)
• Decennial Van't Hoff Medal (Genootschap ter Bevordering van de Natuur-, Genees-, en Heelkunde, Netherlands, 2011)
• Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2012, 2015)
• Nagoya Medal of Organic Chemistry (2012, 2013)
• Grand Prix Scientifique Cino del Duca (2012)
• Humboldt Award (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany, 2012)
• Lily European Distinguished Science Award (2013)
• RSC Award for distinguished service (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013)
• Marie Curie Medal and Jedrzej Sniadecki Medaille (Polish Chemical Society, 2013)
• Yamada-Koga Award (2013)
• Theodor Föster Award (German Chemical Society (GDCh) & Bunsen-Society for Physical Chemistry, Germany, 2014)
• Netherlands Catalysis and Chemistry Award (2015)
• Chemistry for the Future Solvay Prize (2015), awarded for "his work on groundbreaking research on molecular motors, a research field that paves the way to new therapeutic and technological applications with nanorobots."
• Hoffman Medal (German Chemical Society, 2016)
• Tetrahedron Prize (Elsevier, 2016)
• Centenary Prize (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2017)
• European Gold Medal (European Chemical Society (EuChemS), 2018)
• Raman Chair (Indian Academy of Sciences, 2019), an honorary position involving lectures and interaction with the Indian research community.
• Honorary doctoral degree (University of Johannesburg, 2019), in recognition of his contributions to chemistry and the scientific community.

5.3. Society Memberships and Fellowships

Feringa is an active member of numerous prestigious chemical and scientific societies worldwide:

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, 1998)
• International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2004)
• Elected member (2006) and Academy Professor (2008) of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). At the KNAW, he also served as vice-president and Chair of the Board of the Science Division.
• Former president of the Bürgenstock Conference in Switzerland (2009)
• Elected Member of the Academia Europaea (2010)
• Council Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2013)
• Honorary Member of the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society (2016)
• Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences (2019)
• Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (2019)
• Foreign Member of the Royal Society (2020)
• Member of the Dutch Technology and Innovation Academy
• Member of the American Chemical Society

5.4. Royal and Other Honours

In addition to his scientific and academic awards, Feringa has received several state and civic honors:

• Appointed a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (2008).
• Promoted to Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (2016).
• Made an Honorary Citizen of Groningen (2016).
• A street in his birthplace, Barger-Compascuum, was named Prof. Dr. B. L. Feringadam in his honor (2017).