Chauvin, Yves (1930– )

French chemist, who with US chemists Robert H Grubbs and Richard R Schrock shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2005 for his contributions to the understanding of metathesis reactions (the interchange of radicals or groups of atoms in a compound) in organic chemistry.

Chauvin won his share of the Nobel Prize for his work in 1971 explaining how metathesis reactions functioned and postulating what types of metal compound would act as a catalyst for these reactions. Metathesis has since become an established method in the chemistry industry and is used routinely in the production of advanced plastics and pharmaceuticals. Chemical synthesis using metathesis reactions is widely regarded as a more efficient and environmentally friendly method than those previously used.

Chauvin was born in France. He holds the position of honorary research director at the Institut français du pétrole and is a member of the French Academy of Science.