David MacMillan

David MacMillan
MacMillan in 2021
David MacMillan
Born	David William Cross MacMillan 16 3, 1968
Birthplace	Bellshill, Scotland, United Kingdom
Nationality	British, American
Occupation	Chemist, academic
Title	James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry
Employer	Princeton University
Known for	Development of asymmetric organocatalysis
Education	University of California, Irvine (PhD)
Awards	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2021) Corday–Morgan Medal Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2018)
Website	[[chemlabs.princeton.edu/macmillan/ chemlabs.princeton.edu/macmillan/] Official site]

Sir David William Cross MacMillan (born 16 March 1968) is a Scottish-American chemist who holds the position of James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University. Born in the town of Bellshill in Lanarkshire, Scotland, MacMillan rose from a working-class background to become one of the most influential figures in modern organic chemistry. He shared the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with German chemist Benjamin List "for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis," a field of research that introduced small organic molecules as catalysts for chemical reactions, transforming the way scientists approach the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other complex molecules. MacMillan served as chair of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton from 2010 to 2015 and has trained a generation of chemists who have gone on to hold prominent academic positions across the world. He used his share of the Nobel Prize money to establish the May and Billy MacMillan Foundation, named after his parents. In recent years, MacMillan has expanded his research interests to include applications of chemistry to cancer research and neurodegenerative diseases, and was named a Distinguished Scholar in the Princeton Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in 2025.

Early Life

David William Cross MacMillan was born on 16 March 1968 in Bellshill, a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. He grew up in a working-class family; his parents, May and Billy MacMillan, were central figures in his upbringing and later became the namesakes of the charitable foundation he established with his Nobel Prize winnings. Bellshill, located southeast of Glasgow, was historically associated with the steel industry and coal mining, and MacMillan has spoken publicly about his modest origins and the influence his community had on his development.

MacMillan attended Bellshill Academy for his secondary education. His early education in Scotland laid the groundwork for his interest in the sciences, and he would go on to pursue chemistry at the university level. MacMillan has credited his Scottish upbringing with instilling a strong work ethic and a practical approach to problem-solving that would later characterize his research career.

Education

MacMillan earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Glasgow, where he studied chemistry. At Glasgow, he worked under the supervision of Ernest W. Colvin, who served as one of his early academic advisors. His undergraduate education in Scotland provided him with a strong foundation in organic chemistry, and he subsequently moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies.

MacMillan enrolled at the University of California, Irvine, where he completed both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in chemistry. His doctoral research, conducted under the supervision of Larry E. Overman, focused on the "Stereocontrolled formation of bicyclic tetrahydrofurans and Enantioselective total synthesis of eunicellin diterpenes," and was completed in 1996. This work on stereoselective synthesis and natural product total synthesis demonstrated MacMillan's early aptitude for solving complex problems in organic chemistry, themes that would recur throughout his subsequent career.

Following his doctoral work, MacMillan undertook postdoctoral research with David A. Evans at Harvard University, where Evans served as another key academic advisor. The combination of training under Overman in total synthesis and Evans in asymmetric catalysis and methodology development proved formative, equipping MacMillan with the intellectual tools that would eventually lead to his groundbreaking contributions to organocatalysis.

Career

Early Academic Career

After completing his postdoctoral fellowship, MacMillan began his independent academic career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he joined the faculty as an assistant professor of chemistry. It was during this early period that MacMillan began developing the ideas that would define his major scientific contributions. In 2000, he published a seminal paper introducing the concept of organocatalysis — the use of small organic molecules to catalyze asymmetric chemical reactions. This work represented a significant departure from the dominant paradigm in catalysis, which had relied primarily on metal-based catalysts or enzymes to drive selective chemical transformations.

MacMillan's approach demonstrated that simple, readily available organic molecules, particularly chiral amines, could serve as effective catalysts for a range of asymmetric reactions. He coined the term "organocatalysis" to describe this new field, and his early publications attracted considerable attention from the synthetic chemistry community. The practical advantages of organocatalysis were immediately apparent: organic catalysts were generally cheaper, more stable, and less toxic than metal-based alternatives, and they could often be used under mild reaction conditions without the need for inert atmospheres or specialized equipment.

During his time at Berkeley, MacMillan received a Sloan Research Fellowship, an award recognizing early-career scientists of outstanding promise.

California Institute of Technology

MacMillan subsequently moved to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he continued to expand the scope and applications of organocatalysis. At Caltech, he developed new catalytic strategies for a variety of important chemical transformations, including aldol reactions, Diels–Alder reactions, and conjugate additions, all performed with high levels of enantioselectivity using small organic catalysts. His research group at Caltech was highly productive, and the body of work produced during this period helped establish organocatalysis as a mainstream discipline within organic chemistry.

MacMillan received several awards during his tenure at Caltech, including recognition from the institution for his research achievements.

Princeton University

MacMillan joined the faculty of Princeton University in 2006, where he was appointed as the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry. Princeton provided a platform for MacMillan to further expand his research program, and he quickly became one of the most prominent members of the university's chemistry department.

From 2010 to 2015, MacMillan served as chair of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton, overseeing the department's research and educational activities during a period of significant growth. In this administrative role, he helped shape the strategic direction of the department and contributed to faculty recruitment and the development of new research initiatives.

At Princeton, MacMillan's research evolved beyond traditional organocatalysis to encompass a broader range of catalytic strategies. His group made notable contributions to the field of photoredox catalysis, which uses light energy to drive chemical reactions through single-electron transfer processes. By combining photoredox catalysis with organocatalysis and other catalytic modes, MacMillan developed powerful "dual catalysis" strategies that enabled chemical transformations previously considered impossible. These methodological advances found applications in pharmaceutical synthesis, materials science, and other areas of applied chemistry.

MacMillan's laboratory at Princeton has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to establish their own successful academic careers. Among his notable doctoral students are Vy Dong, Tehshik Yoon, and Robert R. Knowles, all of whom have become recognized figures in the field of chemistry in their own right.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2021)

On 6 October 2021, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that MacMillan would share the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. The prize was awarded "for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis." The Nobel Committee recognized that MacMillan and List had independently developed organocatalysis as a new tool for molecular construction in the year 2000, and that the field had since grown into a major area of chemical research with wide-ranging practical applications.

The announcement noted that organocatalysis had provided chemists with a "precise new tool for molecular construction" and that it had had a significant impact on pharmaceutical research, among other fields. Organocatalysts based on MacMillan's designs have been used in the development of new drugs, in the synthesis of natural products, and in the creation of new materials.

MacMillan's reaction to winning the Nobel Prize received wide media coverage, particularly in Scotland, where his achievement was celebrated as a source of national pride. He used his share of the approximately $1.14 million prize to establish the May and Billy MacMillan Foundation, named in honor of his parents, to support charitable causes.

Recent Research Directions

Following the Nobel Prize, MacMillan has continued to pursue new research directions at Princeton. In June 2025, he was named a Distinguished Scholar in the Princeton Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, marking a significant expansion of his research interests into the biomedical sciences. In this role, MacMillan applies his expertise in catalysis and molecular chemistry to the development of new approaches for cancer treatment.

MacMillan has also spoken publicly about the potential applications of his work to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In a 2025 interview with the BBC, he stated that his work in molecular chemistry could lead to a treatment for Alzheimer's disease within the next five years, expressing strong confidence in the direction of his research.

In addition to his laboratory work, MacMillan has become an active public advocate for chemistry and science more broadly. In November 2025, he participated in the Nobel Prize Dialogue in India, a series of events held in Bengaluru and Mumbai that brought together Nobel laureates and members of the public to discuss pressing global challenges. During his appearances in India, MacMillan discussed the role of chemistry in addressing climate change, stating that the world is "one catalytic reaction away" from solving the climate crisis, and he called for a "rebranding of chemistry" to improve public understanding of the discipline's contributions to society.

MacMillan has also contributed to broader research strategy at Princeton. In a 2025 feature by Princeton University highlighting the institution's pursuit of major scientific breakthroughs, MacMillan was cited among the scientists and engineers tackling major global challenges.

Personal Life

MacMillan holds dual British and American citizenship. He was raised in Bellshill, Scotland, and relocated to the United States for his graduate studies, eventually settling permanently in the country. He has maintained close ties to Scotland throughout his career and has spoken frequently about the influence of his upbringing and family on his professional life.

MacMillan's parents, May and Billy MacMillan, remained important figures in his life. Upon receiving the Nobel Prize, he chose to honor them by naming his charitable foundation — the May and Billy MacMillan Foundation — after them, using his share of the prize money to fund its establishment.

MacMillan received a knighthood, reflected in his use of the title "Sir," in recognition of his contributions to science.

Recognition

MacMillan has received numerous awards and honors over the course of his career, reflecting his contributions to organic chemistry and catalysis.

He was awarded the Corday–Morgan Medal by the Royal Society of Chemistry, one of the organization's most prestigious prizes for mid-career chemists. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2012, one of the highest honors bestowed by the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters.

In 2018, MacMillan was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, recognizing his distinguished and continuing achievements in original scientific research. He was also elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

MacMillan received the Noyori Prize, awarded by the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan, in recognition of his contributions to asymmetric catalysis.

He was also recognized with the Harrison Howe Award by the Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society.

The crowning recognition of MacMillan's career came with the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, shared with Benjamin List, which acknowledged the transformative impact of asymmetric organocatalysis on the chemical sciences.

Legacy

MacMillan's most enduring contribution to science is the establishment of organocatalysis as a fundamental pillar of modern synthetic chemistry. Before his work in 2000, the catalysis of asymmetric reactions was dominated by two approaches: metal catalysis and biocatalysis (the use of enzymes). MacMillan's demonstration that simple, small organic molecules could achieve high levels of enantioselectivity in a wide range of chemical reactions opened an entirely new avenue for chemical synthesis. The field that he and Benjamin List independently pioneered has since grown to encompass thousands of reactions and has been adopted by researchers in academia and industry worldwide.

The practical implications of organocatalysis are substantial. Because organic catalysts are typically inexpensive, stable, and non-toxic compared to their metal-based counterparts, they have found widespread application in the pharmaceutical industry, where the efficient synthesis of single-enantiomer drugs is of critical importance. Organocatalytic methods have been incorporated into the manufacture of numerous pharmaceutical compounds, and the principles of organocatalysis have influenced the design of new catalytic processes in agrochemistry, materials science, and green chemistry.

MacMillan's later contributions to photoredox catalysis and dual catalysis strategies have further expanded the synthetic chemist's toolkit, enabling reactions that proceed through radical intermediates under mild conditions. These methods have proven useful for late-stage functionalization of drug molecules and for the construction of complex molecular architectures.

As a mentor and educator, MacMillan has shaped the careers of numerous scientists. His doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, including Vy Dong, Tehshik Yoon, and Robert R. Knowles, have gone on to establish independent research groups and have made their own significant contributions to chemistry.

MacMillan's public engagement activities, including his participation in the Nobel Prize Dialogue and his advocacy for chemistry as a tool for addressing global challenges such as climate change and disease, have contributed to broader public awareness of the role of the chemical sciences in modern life.