Greeting from prof. Ryoji Noyori Nagoya University, Japan (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2001)   The Second International Conference on Chemistry and Biological Activity of Oxygen- and Sulfur-Containing Heterocycles. October 14-17, 2003, Moscow

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the great success of the Second International Conference on Chemistry and Biological Activity of Oxygen- and Sulfur-Containing Heterocycles. I do believe that this success is due to the support science receives from the President of the Russian Federation, the outstanding contributions by the eminent members of the Russian Academy of Sciences as well as the sustained efforts of the Organizing Committee.

I am delighted to be awarded the most prestigious Gold Medal from the Scientific Partnership Foundation headed by Professor Victor Kartsev. I also feel highly privileged to share such a marvelous occasion with Professor Rolf Huisgen from Germany and Professor Henk C. van der Place from The Netherlands, for whom I have had the utmost respect for many years.

Chemistry is beyond the science of mere observation or understanding of Nature. It is creative and productive. We chemists are very proud of our ability to create high values from almost nothing on the basis of accumulated scientific knowledge. Our health and daily life rely largely on various man-made substances produced by multi-step chemical conversions of petroleum- or biomass-based feedstocks. Heterocyclic chemistry is playing a key role in the development of effective biologically active compounds. In fact, there are already a range of industrial processes for the synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs and agrochemicals using the knowledge of this important scientific realm.

It is obvious that synthetic chemists have greatly enhanced the quality of life worldwide. Our activities in the 21st century, however, should be more creative and dynamic. Furthering understanding of precise biological mechanisms by synthetic chemists will lead to the discovery of rational, more effective pharmaceuticals in the post-genome era. Our deep insight into applied physics must lead to invention of a range of molecule-based advanced materials as well. Toward this goal, interdisciplinary and international cooperations are crucial. Our efforts are further to be directed toward solving a whole range of existing, or even unforeseen, social and global issues associated with health, materials, food, energy, and the environment among others. I hope that this conference will point towards future developments of very significant potential.

Thank you very much.

R.Noyori
Professor of Chemistry
Nagoya University
Nobel Laureate, 2001