TPU celebrates 125th anniversary of the first organic chemistry department east of the Urals

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TPU celebrates 125th anniversary of the first organic chemistry department east of the Urals

Early 20th century, Siberia, Tomsk. A young technological institute is still completing its chemistry building, but science is already in full swing in the half-finished laboratories. It was here in 1901 that the Department of Organic Chemistry was established, becoming the first scientific and educational center in the field of organic chemistry across the vast territory of Russia from the Urals to the Far East. And to this day, the chemical school at Tomsk Polytechnic University retains its status as one of the strongest in the country.

How it all began

Organic chemistry in Tomsk wasn't just taught; it was created from scratch. Nikolai Kizhner, a student of the renowned Vladimir Markovnikov, headed the department. He had to build the laboratory from scratch, which became the most advanced in terms of equipment at that time. Thought the construction of the chemical building was not yet finished, Kizhner did not give up. And it was in Tomsk that he made his discoveries that became part of textbooks worldwide.

TTI Chemical Building, early XXth century

Thus, in 1910, Kizhner discovered the reaction for reducing the carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones to a methylene group. Similar results were obtained and published a little later by the German chemist Ludwig Wolff. This is how the dual name, the Kizhner-Wolff reaction, came about.

In 1912, Kizhner discovered a method to synthesize cyclopropane hydrocarbons.

N.M. Kizhner with his students in one of the rooms of the Chemistry Building of TTI, early XXth century

The outstanding Russian chemist Nikolai Vorozhtsov worked as a senior laboratory assistant at the time in Nikolai Kishner's laboratory, from 1904 to 1912. He is considered one of the founders of the national school of dye chemistry and the author of Fundamentals of the Synthesis of Intermediates and Dyes, a monograph that has been reissued many times.

A school that cultivates researchers

After Kizhner, the department was headed by no less prominent figures. A student of Mendeleev, honored researcher and technician Yakov Mikhailenko. He was one of the first in Russia to develop a lecture course and textbook based on the then-current electronic theories in chemistry. Boris V. Tronov headed the department for 36 years. Over the years, he authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific publications, supervised works of over 30 Doctors and Candidates of Sciences, and established an entire Siberian school of organic chemists, mentoring dozens of researchers.

Chemistry students of TTI, 1920s

Boris Tronov and his student Avtonomiy Novikov developed a method for the direct iodination of aromatic compounds with molecular iodine in the presence of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids. Later, the development was included in many textbooks as the Tronov-Novikov method.

The synthesis and transformations of organic iodine compounds became Novikov's main research area. His research results in this field formed the basis for the technology of obtaining over two and a half dozen mono-, diiodo-, distyryl-, and diphenyl-ethynylarenes, which were implemented at actual production facilities.

Chemistry for the benefit of society

During the Great Patriotic War, chemistry at Tomsk Polytechnic Institute worked for the defense effort. Leonid P. Kulev researched how to identify and neutralize hazardous substances. He received awards from the People's Commissariat of Defense for this work. In 1943, Leonid Kulev received the Stalin Award for his works on military themes, which he donated to the defense fund for aircraft construction. The researcher's wartime work was recognized with the Order of the Red Star, the Medal "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War," and the Order of Lenin.

1940 Scientific Chemistry Conference

After the war, Leonid Kulev developed a scientific field related to the development of medicinal drugs. Together with his students, he created medications for epilepsy treatment - "Benzonal" and "Benzobamil," which are still used in medical practice today. Under his leadership, compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti-tuberculosis activity were also obtained.

From classic reactions to modern technologies

Over time, the department grew and changed. In 1979, two departments, Organic Chemistry and Organic Synthesis Technology, merged. In 2011, the modern name appeared: the Department of Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry. And in 2017, it was granted a special status - the N. M. Kizhner Research and Educational Center.

The N. M. Kizhner Research and Educational Center at Tomsk Polytechnic University is currently actively developing areas related to safe and efficient organic synthesis. Researchers of the center are working on creating stable and less hazardous analogs of traditional chemical reagents, such as aromatic and heteroaromatic diazonium salts. Such compounds retain high reactivity while being safer to store and handle. This is important for both laboratory practice and for scaling up industrial processes, including the production of medicines and advanced materials.

Laboratories of the N. M. Kizhner Research and Educational Center

Concurrently, research to find promising biologically active substances and materials for medical applications is underway at the N. M. Kizhner Research and Educational Center. Researchers synthesize and study oximes based on complex heterocyclic systems. A number of these compounds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cytotoxic properties. In addition, the Center participates in interdisciplinary projects aimed at developing biodegradable implants, contrast agents for MRI studies, and drugs for the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.

The research conducted by scientists at the N. M. Kizhner Research and Educational Center receives high academic recognition from the academic community and is regularly supported by grants from the Russian Science Foundation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the federal Priority 2030 program of the national project "Youth and Children." This allows the Center to equip the laboratories with modern equipment and attract leading specialists and young researchers to the projects.