History of the institute

Institute of Organic Chemistry is one of the leading scientific institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Its scientists have made a significant contribution to the treasury of global chemical science. The Institute’s research in the fields of the color theory of organic compounds, mechanisms of organic reactions, heterocyclic chemistry, chemistry of phosphorus-, fluorine-, and sulfur-containing organic compounds, chemistry of biologically active compounds, and supramolecular chemistry has gained widespread recognition.

The research by A.I. Kiprianov and his school became a key element in the development of the modern color theory for linear conjugated systems.
The concept of heterolytic reactions proceeding through the formation of donor–acceptor complexes and multicentered cyclic transition states, developed by Ye.O. Shilov, played an outstanding role in shaping contemporary views on the mechanisms of organic reactions.
The discovery of the synthetic path to iminophosphoranes by O.V. Kirsanov spurred rapid development in new directions of phosphorus organic chemistry.
The principle of designing superstrong acceptors and superstrong acids, proposed by L.M. Yagupolsky, opened a new chapter in the organic chemistry of fluorine.

The Institute’s scientific result have been widely implemented in the chemical and hydrometallurgical industries, agriculture, medicine, and veterinary science.

Based on the Institute’s research departments, three new chemical-profile institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine were established:

The achievements of the Institute’s scientists have been recognized with numerous state awards. The research of acad. A.I. Kiprianov on the creation of specialized cinephotographic materials was awarded the USSR State Prize in 1942. For achievements in the chemistry of phosphorus- and sulfur-containing organic compounds, acad. O.V. Kirsanov was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1974. Many Institute scientists have been honored with orders, medals, and State Prizes of Ukraine, as well as State Prizes of the USSR and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, along with awards named after prominent Ukrainian scientists.

The establishment of the Institute of Organic Chemistry is linked to the scientific schools of outstanding Ukrainian chemists: corr. mem. of the USSR Academy of Sciences S.M. Reformatsky at Kyiv University and acad. of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR V.G. Shaposhnikov at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

On May 23, 1939, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR decided to establish the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology based on the Institute of Chemical Technology and the Organic Chemistry Sector of the Institute of Chemistry. The structure of the newly formed Institute was approved with four departments: General Organic Synthesis (headed by acad. V.P. Yavorsky); Fuels (headed by acad. M.I. Kuznetsov); Macromolecular Compounds (headed by acad. I.K. Matsurevich); Fibrous Materials and Dyes (headed by acad. V.G. Shaposhnikov). Academician V.P. Yavorsky was appointed Director of the Institute.

During World War II, the evacuated Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, together with the Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, were reorganized into the United Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. After the death of acad. V.P. Yavorsky in 1942, A.I. Kiprianov was appointed Director of the United Institute of Chemistry. In October 1943, the Institute was moved to Moscow and, in May 1944, relocated to Kyiv.

After returning to Kyiv, A.I. Kiprianov conducted research on the color theory of organic compounds, the synthesis of cyanine dyes, and the development of highly sensitive cinematographic materials for special defense-related applications. His scientific disciples, O.I. Tolmachov and Yu.L. Slominsky, were the first in the world to develop polymethine dyes with absorption maxima in the 1200-1300 nm range.

In 1945, corr. mem. P.V. Golovin established the Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Technology. Its work was focused on developing technologies and equipment for sugar production, sugar juice purification, sugar crystallization, and obtaining glycerol from molasses and plant-derived fructose.

In 1947, Ye.O. Shilov founded the Laboratory of Organic Reaction Mechanisms at the Institute. He was one of the pioneers in studying organic reaction mechanisms and proposed and substantiated several fundamental concepts in this field, including the principle of donor–acceptor interaction and the idea that the formation of cyclic transition states can facilitate chemical transformations.

Research on biochemical reaction mechanisms led to the establishment of the Laboratory of Photosynthesis at the Institute in 1963, headed by Ye.O. Shilov’s talented student, corr. mem. O.O. Yasnykov. His research was focused on identifying and studying chemical reactions that model specific dark and light phases of photosynthesis in green plants.

In 1951, the Laboratory of Macromolecular Chemistry was established at the Institute, headed by K.A. Kornev. In 1958, this laboratory was transformed into the Institute of Polymer and Monomer Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. Today, it is the powerful Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine.

In 1951, the Laboratory of Insecticides was established at the Institute, led by O.V. Kirsanov, a student of acad. O.Ye. Chichibabin. The laboratory’s primary research focus was phosphorus chemistry. In 1960, acad. O.V. Kirsanov was appointed Director of the Institute, a position he held until 1983.

Academician O.V. Kirsanov was the founder of the scientific school of phosphorus- and sulfur-containing organic compounds in Ukraine and the author of the eponymous Kirsanov reaction. His scientific work serves as an instructive example of combining fundamental research with the practical implementation of its results.

In the early 1970s, the field of organoelement chemistry experienced rapid development. Eight research departments were engaged in this direction: the Department of Organophosphorus Chemistry, Chemistry of Organoelement Isocyanates, Chemistry of Organofluorine Compounds, Chemistry of Complex-Forming Organophosphorus Compounds, Chemistry of Organoelement Compounds, Chemistry of Organosulfur Compounds, Chemistry of Phosphanes, and Chemistry of Polyhalogenated Organic Compounds.

A significant contribution to the chemistry of phosphorus and silicon organic compounds was made by Kirsanov’s disciple, corr. mem. H.I. Derkach. He developed methods for oxidative imination of trivalent phosphorus compounds and proposed synthetic approaches to acyl iso(thio)cyanates of phosphorus acids, halogensilyl isocyanates, and other compounds.

In the field of organophosphorus and organosilicon chemistry, corr. mem. Yu.G. Hololobov made substantial contributions.

Another talented disciple of O.V. Kirsanov, acad. V.P. Kukhar, worked on the chemistry of organophosphorus compounds (trichlorophosphazopolychloroalkanes, six-membered phosphorus-containing heterocycles) and polyhalogenated organic compounds.

A disciple of A.I. Kiprianov, prof. L.M. Yahupolsky, founded the scientific school of fluorine chemistry in Ukraine. Thanks to the efforts of L.M. Yahupolskyi’s school, a new research direction—chemistry of aromatic and heterocyclic compounds with fluorine-containing substituents—has been rapidly developing. Intensive research is being conducted on the synthesis of fluorinated organic dyes.

Academician O.O. Ishchenko developed the theoretical foundations for the design of polymethine dyes for laser technology and main the groundwork research on their molecular luminescence. This enabled the acquisition of fundamentally new information on the nature of intra- and intermolecular interactions in their solutions and led to new practical applications of polymethines in information technology, photovoltaics, and electroluminescence.

From 1983, for 15 years, the Institute was headed by acad. L.M. Markovsky. He and his disciples made significant contributions to the chemistry of organic compounds of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium; organofluorine chemistry; chemistry of hypo- and hypercoordinated phosphorus compounds; chemistry of stable radicals; phosphorus tautomerism; chemistry of phosphorus-containing crown ethers; and supramolecular chemistry. Under his leadership, a number of original flame retardants and thermostabilizers for polymeric materials were developed and introduced into production, finding widespread application in electrical engineering, mining, and the aerospace industry. For the series of works «Macrocyclic Compounds: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties», L.M. Markovsky was awarded the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology.

In 1998, the Institute was headed by acad. M.O. Lozynskyi. A significant fundamental and practical research direction under his leadership in the field of biologically active compounds of natural and synthetic origin was the search for new structures and pharmacophore groups responsible for specific biological activity. A large body of work was carried out on the synthesis of new types of oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-containing five- and six-membered condensed heterocyclic systems. M.O. Lozynskyi developed and introduced pharmaceutical substances such as Amben, Bemitil, Tomerzol, Lomaden, Etonium, Ademol, Mebifon, and Yakton.

In 2011, the Institute was headed by acad. V.I. Kalchenko. Under his leadership, research in supramolecular chemistry was conducted, focusing on molecular design, synthesis, and the study of supramolecular interactions of macrocyclic compounds—crown ethers, calixarenes, thiacalixarenes, and calixresorcinarenes. As a result of these studies, highly selective molecular and ion receptors were created, exhibiting properties comparable to those of natural enzymes. The obtained compounds have broad practical application prospects in various fields of science and technology.

Since 2021, the Institute has been led by corr. mem. M.V. Vovk. His scientific activity is related to the study of heterocyclization reaction mechanisms, asymmetric organocatalytic processes, metal complex compounds, photocatalytic reactions, as well as the design and biomedical research of pharmacologically promising structures. M.V. Vovk was awarded the Kiprianov Prize of NAS of Ukraine (2017) and the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology (2020).

Presently, the Institute conducts world-class fundamental research on targeted molecular design and the synthesis of new types of physiologically active heterocyclic and macrocyclic compounds. Stereoselective methods for synthesizing enantiomerically pure organic compounds of various classes are being developed, along with new fluorination methods.

The Institute’s innovative developments focus on the creation of pharmaceuticals, physiologically active substances for medicine and veterinary science, polymethine dyes for photovoltaics, holography, and laser technology, catalysts for organic reactions in the chemical industry, and highly selective complexing agents for molecules and ions, including sensors, extractants, and sorbents for radionuclides.

More details on the Institute’s history can be found in the book «Institute of Organic Chemistry of NAS of Ukraine: 70 Years.» [in Ukrainian].