Basic research activities in the N.D. Zelinskiy Institute (ZIOC RAS) are focused on the following:

• obtaining the new data on the structure and transformations of organic compounds and the mechanisms of their chemical reactions;
• synthesis of the organic compounds of new classes, discovery of new reactions, development of new catalysts and examination of structure-to-catalytic activity relationships;
• elaboration of new methods for the synthesis of organic compounds and new catalysts valuable in technological applications.

Theoretical and methodological investigations on a number of essential chemical problems carried out in ZIOC are of principal significance for organic chemistry in general. Among them are:

• theory of the chemical structure and reactivity, tautomerism and dual reactivity,
• chemistry of unstable molecules and important chemical intermediates,
• stereochemistry and conformational analysis,
• strategy of the targeted synthesis,
• scientific grounds for the prediction of the catalytic activity,
• instrumental and computational methods for structural and reactivity studies.

The achievements of the Institute in organic synthesis and catalysis have been widely recognized in the following areas:

• chemistry of unsaturated compounds,
• chemistry of diazo compounds, carbenes and small rings,
• homolytic reactions,
• chemistry of nitro compounds,
• chemistry of heterocyclic systems, particularly of nitrogen- and sulfur-containing heterocycles,
• chemistry of organoboranes and other organoelement compounds,
• chemical reactions under super-high pressure,
• electrochemical organic synthesis,
• chemistry of heterochain polymers.

The most successful studies of natural compounds in ZIOC are performed in the areas of carbohydrate chemistry and chemistry of steroids and oxylipins.

The basic research in organic catalysis includes the following:

• insight into the elementary stages of catalytic reactions, including inter alia methods of quantum chemistry,
• studies of the structure and physical properties of the catalyst surface using modern instrumental and computational methods in complex,
• development of the asymmetric catalytic synthesis,
• formulation of the scientific principles for the preparation of new catalysts on the basis of domestic zeolites,
• development of kinetic, physical and mathematical models of industrial processes and reactors.

Many outstanding scientific results have been obtained in ZIOC. For example, Prof. P.P. Shorygin and co-workers discovered a new physical phenomenon of resonance Raman light scattering, which is widely applied for structural studies in organic chemistry nowadays.

A considerable contribution was made to the study of double bonds formed by silicon and germanium, particularly of Si=C bond that was experimentally observed and studied for the first time. Principally new methods for the synthesis of fluoroarenes were developed. These methods are based on [1+2]- and [2+2]-cycloaddition of fluorinated carbenes, olefins and dienes to unsaturated compounds.

Development and successful usage of a variety of the structure and reactivity investigation methods should be mentioned. Among them are pulse photolysis and thermolysis and low-temperature stabilization in inert matrices applied to general organic compounds, intermediates and other unstable molecules.

New scientific areas brought up in ZIOC include ultra-high pressure reactions, particularly solid-phase reactions induced by shear deformation that are currently studied in ZIOC. The empirical dependence of pressure on the chemical reaction rate constant was discovered and substantiated in the Institute (Elyanov-Hamann formula).

Methods of phase transfer catalysis, electrochemistry and radiospectroscopy are successfully applied.

The world largest scientific school of nitro-compound chemistry, including high-energy materials, was established in ZIOC half century ago and has been actively evolving since. The achieved results have ensured the remarkable position of Russia in the field of high-energy materials and improved Russian defense potential. The ZIOC developments allowed the creation of an exclusively high-performance component of solid propellant for strategic missiles and of a number of other highly energetic formulations and components for space technology.
For the recent years global-scale projects related to the chemical conversion of explosives have been implemented in the Institute. Primarily, this implies studies of the fundamental problems of multi-tonnage TNT chemical utilization and technologies of its transformation into valuable commercial products (polymers, dyes, biologically active compounds).
Currently, ZIOC hosts versatile studies that open up new ways for the usage of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds in organic synthesis.

Among the most important scientific activities of ZIOC is the research in chemistry of heterocyclic compounds, especially of nitrogen- and sulfur-containing ones. In-depth studies of thiophene, pyridine, azoles, furazane and furoxane have won the world concession. Great progress has been achieved in the organoborane chemistry, including the development of synthetic methods, studies of organoborane properties and their usage in organic synthesis. A systematic research on homolytic reactions revealed new capabilities of the preparative synthesis of aliphatic and alicyclic functional compounds, thiacrown ethers and macrocyclic lactones. It allowed the design of a fundamentally new industrial process for the acetopropyl acetate production. The studies of the synthesis of heterochain polymers have been recently conducting.

ZIOC scientists have greatly contributed to the development of chemistry, biochemistry and immunochemistry of carbohydrates and carbohydrate-containing biopolymers, steroids and other physiologically active compounds. Fundamental research in carbohydrate chemistry created a scientific basis for understanding of biological functions of carbohydrate-containing biopolymers, which opened up the ways for new diagnostic and medicinal preparations. Original investigations in the steroid synthesis resulted in the elaboration of previously unknown hormonal agents with isolated biological functions.

The basic research in many fields of the chemical catalysis science has been carried out. Among these fields are the theory of organic catalysis, elementary steps of some catalytic reactions, catalytic transformations of hydrocarbons, zeolite catalysis and syntheses based on carbon monoxide and other monocarbon molecules. ZIOC scientists developed new high-performance environmentally safe catalytic processes for the production of isopentane, high-octane gasolines and alkylaromatic hydrocarbons. The devised compounds include the catalysts for:

• the preparation of styrene, allyl acetate and acetopropyl acetate,
• the conversion of hydrocarbons into components of motor fuel,
• fat hydrogenation,
• synthesis gas refinement in the production of ammonia,
• treatment of inert and exhaust gases,
• the synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons and ceresin from carbon monoxide and hydrogen,
• the preparation of acetic acid by methanol carbonylation.

The basic research results of ZIOC served as a basis for the industrial production of many medicals and vitamins, in particular, acrichine, A, B1 and B6 vitamins, Hemodez (an infusion blood substitute), Vinylin (the Schostakowski balsam), Octicyl, potassium orotate, Promedol, Tsygerol, Metaprogerol, Mebicar, Tribenol, Lysozyme, Acyclovir (antiviral drug), isoprenoid alcohols - key intermediates for the synthesis of A and E vitamins. An efficient method for the streptomycin isolation and purification was developed and successfully applied in industry. In cooperation with other institutions of the Academy, the production of the 4th generation antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone series (Pefloxacin) is successfully realized.

Much attention is paid to the synthesis of plant and animal protection agents. Preparation processes of synthetic pyrethroids, insect pheromones and juvenile hormone analogs developed in ZIOC have wide application. Commercial production of desthiobiotin (baking yeast growth stimulator) was set up. A lot of manufacture-scale synthetic technologies were developed and put into practice: anthelmintics Tividine (Pytantel tartrate) and Embovine (Pytantel pamoate) [at proposal stage], abortive drug Pentkrophtone (Miphepristone), antiscorching additive Phthalocyl (Santogard) for tire industry, unique stable bis(nitrile oxides) agents for rubber "cold" cure. Methods and special equipment for the commercial synthesis of high-energy polycyclic hydrocarbons with unique physicochemical characteristics were developed at the Institute in cooperation with other R&D teams.

Joint efforts of the Institute and affiliated Special Design Bureau (1959-1994) in the design and industrial production of various research instruments, primarily chromatographs, played a significant role in the promotion of the research equipment manufacturing in Russia.

Currently the ZIOC staff comprises about 500 researchers and 200 technical support workers. There are 100 Doctors of Science (including 5 full members and 5 corresponding members of RAS) and more than 250 PhDs. Several ZIOC researchers have been awarded Lenin and State Prizes; many of them are winners of the Council of Ministers Award, name prizes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Demidov Award and international awards. Eight scientists have been awarded with the Russian Federation Honored Man of Science title.

The Institute structure includes 34 large (laboratories) and 7 small (groups) research teams, editorial and publishing, S&T information and educational units. The Design and Technology Department established in ZIOC in 1995 became a successor of the former Special Design Bureau. Its main objective is the unique equipment design and production for intra- and inter-Institute needs. ZIOC hosts the scientific library and the Scientific Information Department.

The Computer Assistance to Chemical Research Centre (CACR) established a FREEnet network in 1991. It happened within the framework of the Division of General and Technical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences and was the first initiative in Russia to provide services for scientific and educational institutions countrywide. The Centre supports specialized information and computational resources for chemists, including the National WWW server on chemistry. Currently it provides communication infrastructure services to many scientific institutions and universities, for example, it became the information support provider for "Mir" orbital station in 1994-2001.
The Moscow Scientific Technical Network Centre of RAS (STN International) established in 1991 provides information from the STN databases to the scientists of RAS, and user training courses.

The Ecological Analytical Centre was organized in 1996 on the basis of the former environmental research team. Being accredited by the RF State Standards Committee, the Centre runs multicomponent analyses of natural and waste water and conducts determination of heavy metals, petroleum products and benzo[a]pyrene in soil, bottoms, solid waste and waste water sedimentations.

The Institute makes a considerable contribution to the training of highly qualified scientific personnel for Russia, the CIS states and other countries. During the past years, about 1000 PhD and ScD students graduated from the ZIOC courses that has has been functioning since the Institute foundation. The ZIOC course graduates work in the prestigious scientific centres in Russia, as well as all over the world, and often hold leading positions in science. Many of them have been elected as members of RAS and foreign scientific academies, have become heads of different institutes and university chairs. Almost all the representatives of the ZIOC management are the ZIOC PhD course graduates.

At present, there are several persons working for a doctor of science degree, and more than 60 PhD students at ZIOC, which is more than in any other chemical institute of RAS. Scientific competitions take place annually to encourage young scientists and PhD students. Most successful PhD students are awarded scholarships named after the outstanding scientists of the Institute:

• N.D. Zelinsky, in organic chemistry and petrochemistry,
• A.E. Favorsky, in organic chemistry,
• A.N. Nesmeyanov, in organoelement chemistry,
• A.A. Balandin, in theory of catalysis,
• I.N. Nazarov, in fine organic synthesis,
• B.A. Kazansky, in catalytic synthesis,
• A.D. Petrov, in chemistry of hydrocarbons, organosilicon and organogermanium compounds,
• S.S. Novikov, in chemistry of nitro and polynitrogen compounds,
• B.M. Mikhailov, in chemistry of organoboron compounds,
• A.M. Moiseenkov, in chemistry of natural compounds,
• V.A. Ponomarenko, in polymer chemistry,
• N.I. Shuikin, in catalytic reactions of hydrocarbons,
• Ya.L. Goldfarb, in chemistry of heterocyclic compounds,
• A.M. Rubinstein, in studies of physicochemical properties of heterogeneous catalysts.

In the 90's, ZIOC launched a continuous educational system, viz., Chemical Lyceum (high school) - Higher Chemical College (university) - PhD school - DSc school. In 1990 the Institute initiated a new type of a high school (Moscow Chemical Lyceum) to attract talented young "chemistry fans" from schools and to train them into highly qualified chemists eager to work in the Academy. In 1991, the Scientific Educational Centre was organized for special training of the Lyceum students in organic chemistry.

Some of the ZIOC scientists take part in training of future chemists as professors and supervisors of practical classes at the Higher Chemical College of RAS. It was founded in 1991 on the basis of the Mendeleev Russian Chemical Technological University by the initiative of full member of RAS Oleg P. Nefedov (at that time - Vice-President of the Academy).

The ZIOC leading scientists are members of Russian and foreign scientific societies, scientific councils of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ministries and departments. They actively work in editorial boards of Russian and international journals. Over the past years, research team of the Institute has published thousands of scientific papers and lectures, hundreds of inventions, about 150 monographs and collections of papers, more than 10 textbooks and methodological guides, many of which have gone through several editions and were translated into many languages.

Leading national chemical journals are published in the Institute with active involvement of its staff. The editorial board of the journal Izvestiya Akademii Nauk - Seriya Khimicheskaya (Russian Chemical Bulletin) has been working at ZIOC for more than 50 years. Editorial boards of Uspekhi Khimii (Russian Chemical Reviews), Mendeleev Communications, and Kinetika i Kataliz (Kinetics and Catalysis) have their offices in the Institute.

Being a renowned centre of world science, ZIOC effectively develops international cooperation in the key research areas. The 80's met joint projects and regular scientific exchange with the Academies of Sciences of East European countries, the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Sweden, India and Japan. Since the 90's, numerous joint projects have been implemented and supported by grants from international foundations under agreements between RAS and Polish and Bulgarian Academies of Sciences and contracts with various companies. The ZIOC researchers are continuously invited to the companies and scientific centres in the USA, the UK, Germany, Denmark, France, Sweden, China, Vietnam, and other countries.

The ZIOC scientists actively participate in Russian and international congresses and symposia devoted to virtually all subjects of organic, physical organic, organoelement, bioorganic and catalytic chemistry. The Institute itself acts as an organizer of many scientific events and also makes arrangements for conferences related to information and communication technologies and computer assistance to chemical, biological and medical research.

The ZIOC successful and fruitful activity promoted the foundation of a number of new directions in science and new institutes of the Academy. In 1954, the Institute of Organoelement Compounds, later named after A.N. Nesmeyanov, splitted from ZIOC. The Institute of High-Pressure Physics (1954) and the Institute of Chemistry of Natural Compounds (1959, currently - Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry) were arranged on the basis of several ZIOC laboratories. Many institutions were organized with the first-hand participation of ZIOC, among them: Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Academy in Irkutsk (currently, Favorsky Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry of RAS SB), Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry in Minsk (Belarus), Institutes of Organic Chemistry in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Dushanbe (Tajikistan), and Institute of Chemistry in Ashkhabad (Turkmenistan).