About us
The Institute of Organic Chemistry, one of the oldest chemical institutes in The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, was founded in 1960. Its scientific development is a result of both the great contributions of the first director, Acad. Bogdan Kurtev and the traditions of the organic chemistry created in the Sofia University by the prominent Bulgarian scientist Acad. Dimitar Ivanov. During the development of the Institute of Organic Chemistry it has given rise to the Institute of Polymers (1972) and the Institute of Catalysis (1983). From its foundation the Institute has played a central role in Bulgaria as the leading scientific institution in the field of organic chemistry. Some of the most prominent representatives of the Bulgarian chemical science who are closely related with the Institute are the Academicians George Rankov, Dimitar Ivanov, Bogdan Kurtev, Ivan Juchnovski, Corresponding Member Prof. Chavdar Ivanov.
The international recognition gained by the Institute is supported by the foundation of the Centre of Phytochemistry in 1977, within a joint project of the Bulgarian Government, UNDP and UNESCO for scientific and applied research and training of specialists. Since that time the Institute carries the name Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP). The Director of the Centre of Phytochemistry was Prof. Ilija Ognjanov. This act has stimulated the modernisation of the equipment, the expansion of the international relations and the increase of the role of our phytochemistry and organic chemistry in the international scientificfield.
The main fundamental and applied investigations in IOCCP include: clarifying the relationship between the synthesis, the structure and the reactivity of organic compounds; isolation, determination of the structure and practical application of natural compounds; determination of the structure and the function of proteins, enzymes and peptides; study of the thermal and catalytic transformations of hydrocarbons.
Noteworthy among the greatest accomplishments of the scientists, employed in IOCCP are:
Creation of new methods for synthesis of organic compounds as well as development of the enantioselective catalysts applying organometallic compounds;
Development of new anticorrosion and decorative Galvan plating (copper, zinc and other metals and alloys) based on new organic additives, synthesized and implemented industrially in Bulgaria and used for more than two decades in the automobile industry of Eastern Europe;
Investigation on the basis of spectral (NMR, IR and UV-VIS absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy) as well as computing methods of the relationship structure spectral properties and structure reactivity of organic compounds for the purpose of design and synthesis of new materials for nanotechnology and optoelectronics, photo protectors, fluorescence labels with application in biology and medicine, etc;
Isolation of natural compounds originating from Bulgarian and foreign medical and aromatic plants, propolis, non-poisonous mushrooms, insects and nautical organisms in order to characterize their chemical constitution and to find new biologically active substances for medicine and pharmacy;
Investigation of the mechanism of nutritiousness fats and oils in order to improve their quality and prolong the terms of their preservation;
Development of new analytical methods for investigation and standardization of food products aiming to prove their quality and authenticity;
Studies of the chemical mechanism of action of the membrane during protein biosynthesis using a combination of theoretical and physical-organic chemistry approaches;
Production of Neprolizine used for enzyme cleaning of healing wounds has been patented;
Creation of new biotechnological methods for preparation of enzymic protein hydrolizates with application in restoratives for medicine and sports;
Isolation of pectin polysaccharides from leeks acting as immunomodulators; determination of their carbohydrate and amino acid contents;
Agricultural wastes utilization for active carbon production, applied for potable and waste waters cleaning;
Development of a method for production of highly effective carbon adsorbents with possible application as a drug, for cleaning of wasted waters and gases, as an adsorbent in food industry, etc.;
Preparation and characterization of nanocomposite materials on the basis of ultra dispersed diamond powders used as catalysts supports;
Development of new heterogeneous catalysts for processing of hydrocarbon raw materials and obtaining of ecologic and alternative fuels;
Study of the possibilities to respect the legislation norms for lignite combustion in Thermal Power Plants.
The IOCCP is engaged in the education of PhD students, as well as Bachelor and Master Degree students. IOCCP is the only center in Bulgaria for teaching students in the field of NMR spectroscopy. Since its foundation the Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry is a preferable partner for joint scientific projects of institutes and universities from most of the European countries, as well as of a number of European scientific foundations, e.g. DAAD, Alexander von Humboldt and National Science fund of Swiss.