N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry

The N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry was established in 1934 for conducting basic research in the field of organic synthesis and organic catalysis.

Types of research

• Synthesis of different classes of heterocyclic compounds, aromatic derivatives, nitrocompounds, polyunsaturated compounds (including steroids and relative compounds), complex carbohydrates, fluorinated aromatic compounds and polyfluoroorganosilicon polymers
• Heterogeneous catalysis on zeolites
• homogeneous catalysis on metal complexes
• Fischer-Tropsch reaction
• acid-base catalysis
• hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions
• catalytic alkylation
• paraffins isomerization
• reactions with participation of highly active intermediates like free radicals and carbens
• elaboration of environmentally safe chemical procedures
• biologically active compounds, and
• many other different issues.

Facilities and Equipment

The institute's facilities are mainly analytical instruments for conducting structural studies of organic chemical compounds: 5 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometers, mass-spectrometry machines, analytical analysis equipment, IR- and UV-spectrometers, different types of chromatography instruments and other scientific equipment. The Institute cooperates with the analytical instruments production company Bruker. Bruker plans to establish a Demo Center in the institute during 2004. It will enable the institute to have 70% time access to the most modern powerful analytical instruments.

The institute possesses pilot plant facilities and experience for chemical compounds production on kilo scale. However, this kind of equipment needs to be renovated. The institute has long term cooperation with the Engineering Center located in Volgograd, which is equipped with modern facilities for chemicals production. The Center belongs to Russian Academy of Sciences.

Organizational structure

The institute belongs to Russian Academy of Sciences. It is one of the biggest research centers around the world that focuses its activity in the field of organic chemistry. The research staff is separated into around 40 research teams of varying sizes. In total, there are around 800 employees.

International collaboration

The institute has worked with Exxon-Mobile, Shell, BP, Du Pont, Bayer, Samsung, LG, Amoco, Dow Chemical, Ajinomoto, and many other companies. Generally speaking, the institute conducted basic research studies that were of interest for the companies in the field of bulk catalysis and organic chemicals production using approaches elaborated by the institute.

Desired contacts

Methane conversion, synthesis gas transformations (including Fischer-Tropsch reaction, zeolite catalysis), light paraffins isomerization, regioselective hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, synthesis of chiral compounds for drug and food industries, synthesis of fluorinated aromatic compounds, synthesis of different heterocycles for bioscreening and different uses.

Patents

While working for foreign companies on a contract basis, institute employees authored patents whose rights were coming to companies. Companies were holders of the patents. The institute has a long term experience in the sphere of cooperation with foreign companies and intellectual properties arisen from collaborative research work.

Staff

Senior scientists possess long term experience in teaching students, and some of them are lecturers in Russian universities, including Moscow Higher Chemical College established on the basis of Moscow D.I. Mendeleev Russian Chemical Technology University and N.D.Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry.