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The article provides a review of the scientific research of Academician V.Yu. Kukushkin and his students on the reactivity of coordination compounds, metal complex catalysis, supramolecular chemistry, as well as in other areas. The recognition of the scientific contribution of Academician V.Yu. Kukushkin and his school in Russia and all over the world is highlighted. The article is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncontrollable growth of CO2 concentration in the Earth atmosphere is a cause of ever-accelerating global warming. The warming up of the atmosphere and the increase in the partial pressure of CO2 induce multiple negative catastrophic phenomena on a global scale. On the other hand, carbon dioxide provides a unique and practically inexhaustible source of synthetic carbon (C1 synthon). Well-funded comprehensive studies of the processes of CO2 transformation into chemically important products, such as carboxylic acids, linear organic carbonates, urea and its derivatives, methanol, dimethyl ether, industrial gases (CO, methane), higher hydrocarbons, and products of fine organic synthesis, have been carried out in various countries for more than recent 20 years to mitigate CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. In Russia, this problem has remained virtually unnoticed. Therefore, in this review the authors set the task to draw the attention of chemists to the possibilities of using CO2 in synthesis and to the achievements that have been made in this area, particularly in the synthesis of hydroxybenzoic acids, methanol, and formic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Research on cholinesterases and effects of their inhibition in the USSR and Russia since 1930-1940s till present is exposed in historical aspects. The first physiological and toxicological effects of cholinesterase inhibition were reported by Alexander Ginetsinsky during World War II, when academic institutions were evacuated from Leningrad to Kazan. The main scientific schools that initiated research on chemistry, enzymology and physiology of cholinesterases and their inhibitors were leaded by Alexandr and Boris Arbuzovs, Victor Rozengart, Viktor Yakovlev, Michael Michelson, Martin Kabachnik, Mikhail Voronkov, Ivan Knunyants, Alexandr Bretskin and others. They investigated the main physiological effects of cholinesterase inhibitors, and analyzed the catalytic mechanisms of cholinesterases and related enzymes. Their contributions are landmarks in the history of cholinesterase research. At the present time revival of research on cholinesterases in different universities and institutes is vivid, in particular at the Moscow State University, research institutes of Russian Academy of Sciences and Kazan Scientific Center. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Some main features of new generations of the POLF (presaturated-one-liquid-flow) technology developed originally in Russia (1995) with respect to hydrotreating are considered. It is shown a possibility of the construction and upgrading of hydrodesulfurization facilities with the purposes of decreasing the investment and operating costs, improving the process performance and safety. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Information about several papers discussed at the meeting sponsored by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and Evrokhim Mineral and Chemical Co. held in Moscow, Russia on September 4-9, 2008 is presented. Topics include catalysts preparation and deactivation of chemical compounds, identification of scientific principles of integrated technologies and to know the physical chemistry and kinetics of heterogeneous catalysts. The intent of the move is to enhance the abilities of the scientists.

Information about several papers discussed at a symposium on the mechanisms of catalytic reactions in Russia is presented. Specialists from all regions of Russia discussed on the bioinformatic methods which enable the researcher to study both the general properties of enzymes and the structure and catalytic mechanism of active sites using quantum chemical calculations. The conference features several personalities including C. Mirodatos and S. D. Varfolomeev.

Provides some insights into several scientific research programs established and developed by the A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Development of methods for synthesis of heteroorganic compounds and their application in organic synthesis and catalysis; Basic research in the field of heteroorganic and organic chemistry; Study of structures, chemical reactivity and kinetics.

The article comments on the article "The Reasons Organic Chemistry is Needed for in a Well Developed Country," by I.P. Beletskaya and V.P. Ananikov, published in this journal. It discusses need for a strong effort to get positive results in the fields of Russian chemistry, organic synthesis, and metal complex catalysis; need for the development of new methods and reactions for the formation of desired materials; and role of young researchers in the development of organic chemistry in Russia.

Provides information on the VII Russian Conference on the Mechanism of Catalytic Reactions held on July 3-8, 2005 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. List of organizers; Program committee; Programs and activities.

Profiles Oleg Naumovich Temkin, a chemistry professor and member of the editorial board of "Kinetika i Kataliz" in Russia. Educational background; Career highlights; Contribution to the field of kinetics and catalysis.

Focuses on the selection, grading, and special processing of valuable lube oil crudes in Russia. Quality of the base oils obtained with selective extraction technology; Characterization of the viscosity-temperature; Composite of hydrogenating aluminum-nickel-molybdenum and deparaffinized zeolite-containing catalysts.

Focuses on topics to be discussed at a seminar about catalysts to be held in Moscow, Russia on May 27-30, 2004. Molecular approaches to the design of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts and processes; Catalytic membranes; High throughput catalyst screening.

An estimated 500 million vehicles worldwide are equipped with an exhaust catalyst that uses platinum group elements (PGE) as the main active components and thus contribute to global PGE emissions. Although PGE emitted from automobile exhaust catalysts were first believed to remain in the roadside environment, we propose here that fine PGE-containing particles in automobile exhaust have resulted in a widespread distribution of emitted PGE. Regional and long-range transport of PGE from automobile exhaust catalysts is supported by elevated PGE deposition in both a peat bog located 250 m from traffic and in central Greenland, respectively. Russian smelters were also found to contribute to PGE contamination in central Greenland. Deposition rates estimated for the roadside environment, the peat bog, and central Greenland were used to provide a first estimate of PGE deposition in the northern hemisphere. The results show that deposition of regionally or long-range transported PGE accounts for a large fraction of total PGE deposition, and PGE deposition in the roadside environment represents less than 5% of the total deposition. Transport at the regional and global scales represents an important component in the environmental cycle of emitted PGE and needs to be further studied to fully assess the environmental fate of PGE from automobile exhaust catalysts.

The paper presents the results of the studies carried out by the authors within 20 years on development of processes for production of beta-lactam antibiotics with using biocatalysis. The proposed general principles for the development of efficient biocatalytic technologies are discussed in regard to production of the key compounds and synthesis of beta-lactams. The paper includes 4 parts concerned with comparison of the biocatalytic and chemical processes for production of beta-lactam antibiotics, requirements to the quality of the biocatalysts used and criteria for estimation of the efficiency of the stage of the technological biocatalyst production. The criteria provided determination of the optimal biocatalyst for production of the key compounds in the synthesis of beta-lactams. A retrospective analysis of the biocatalytic processes for production of 6-amino-penicillanic acid is presented and the impact of the activity and the form of the biocatalyst on the process efficiency is substantiated. Various schemes of the enzymatic synthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics and the approaches to the improvement of the technological processes including those with the use of immobilized microbial cultures at the stage of the production of the initial biosynthetic antibiotics are described. The prospects for the improvement of the processes for production of drugs with the use of biocatalysis are indicated and the main trends of the research required for the large scale use of the immobilized enzymes, microbial cells, oligo-enzymatic and poly-enzymatic systems in transformation and synthesis of organic compounds are defined.