Victor Gankin
chemist
- December 8, 1935
- March 30, 2014
- 78 years
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Victor Gankin, 78, Russian-American scientist.
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Full Biography
|Victor Yudkovich Gankin (Russian: Виктор Юдкович Ганкин, 8 December 1935 – 30 March 2014) was a Russian-American scientist and professor who greatly influenced the fields of organic and physical chemistry and industrial technology. He held a PhD and Doctor of Science distinction.
Biography
1953-1959 studied in Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), USSR.
1959-1991 worked in Research Institute of Petrochemical Processes (Leningrad) as a chemist, then as a senior research scientist and in 1968-1991 as a principal scientist.
In 1964 Victor Gankin received a PhD in Organic Chemistry and Technology of Oxosynthesis Process from the Leningrad State University.
In 1969 Victor Gankin received a Dr. of Science degree in Technology of Organic Synthesis from the Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis (Moscow, Russia).
In 1970 received the title of Professor of Chemical Science and Technology.
Victor immigrated to the United States (Boston, MA) in 1991 and founded Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, ITC (Shrewsbury, MA), then Needham, Massachusetts in 1993. He served as the president of ITC from 1993–2014.
Victor Gankin died on 30 March 2014 in Needham, MA.
Scientific work
Victor Gankin was the principal inventor of the novel (“recycle”) process of isoprene and other synthetic rubber components production (references to patents from the CV). The recycle process prevented an impending ecological crisis by replacing the conventional manufacturing process dumping of over 20 thousand none-degradable toxic organic materials annually into the Volga and other rivers. The process allowed for reagents recycling while reducing the manufacturing costs by over 20%. The recycle process was implemented in Tolyatti, Chaikovsk, Nizhnekamsk (Russia).
Victor Gankin discovered and described the mechanism of the hydroformylation reaction and the new type of chemically active particles: coordinately unsaturated compounds (coined term Conences). Novel processes invented and developed by Victor were implemented in Angarsk (butyl alcohols), Salavat, Perm.
The new paradigms and principles proposed by Victor Gankin are as follows: 1) The physical nature of chemical bonding can be explained in the framework of the classical phenomenological approach. 2) One and the same model describes both covalent and ionic bonding. 3) The valence of atoms is defined by the number of electrons in the outermost layer of the atom and by the maximal number of electrons that can be situated in the outermost layer of the atom. 4) The equalization of bond lengths and energies, and the increase of the thermal stability of chemical compounds, described as identical relative to the energy of the Lewis structures, is explained by the electron-nuclear isomerization.
Victor Gankin co-authored several monographs on oxosynthesis and theoretical chemistry, 152 scientific papers in Soviet and international journals and 129 Russian and international patents.
1959-1963 Victor led the discovery, investigation and full development of the oxosynthesis processes of C4 and C6-C8 aldehydes formation with low cobalt concentration (0.01%).
1963-1966 Victor led the discovery and laboratory investigation of 3-methylgexanol production from 2-methylpentene. Got patent 249,353 (USSR).
1966-1970 Victor led the discovery, investigation and full development of the oxosynthesis process of C4 aldehyde using novel naphtheno-evaporative scheme. Patents: NN 661,724 (Italy); 100,2691 (UK), 1,315,589 (France); 169,103; 178,814; 245,759 (USSR).
1970-1972 Victor investigated and tested on a pilot scale the novel process of esters production by oxosynthesis using the cobalt catalyst modified by piridins. Process decreased the amount of byproducts by 50% and increased the yield of normal alcohols by 20%.
1971-1974 Victor discovered, investigated and tested on a pilot scale of the novel process of α-branched acids production from olefines. Process allows to obtain individual α-acids higher than C9 able to form stable esters.
1973-1978 Victor discovered, investigated and fully developed the isoprene production from formaldehyde and isobutylene via dimethyldioxane with full catalyst recycle.
1978-1980 Victor discovered and investigated the process of the styrol production from toluene while saving the methyl group in toluene. Patents: NN 4,192,961 (USA); 1,538,670 (UK).
1980-1984 Victor discovered and investigated the novel process of high (>C15) normal dicarbonic acids production from unsaturated carbon acids.
1984-1988 Victor discovered, investigated and tested on a pilot scale the novel process of methylethyl ketone production from isobutyric aldehyde. Process obtains 2-ethylgexanol and methylethyl ketone from propylene by oxosynthesis without byproducts.
1988-1991 Victor discovered, investigated and fully developed the isoprene and dimethyl vinyl carbinol production via methyl butanediol while decreasing the manufacturing costs of both products by 24%.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Gankin
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- October 1, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Victor Gankin's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Victor Yudkovich Gankin born?
- A.15 July 1938
- B.30 March 2014
- C.12 November 1935
- D.8 December 1935correct
Victor Yudkovich Gankin was born on 8 December 1935.
Source: biography section
2.Which educational institution did Victor Yudkovich Gankin attend from 1953 to 1959?
- A.Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute in Leningradcorrect
- B.Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis
- C.Leningrad State University
- D.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Victor Yudkovich Gankin studied at the Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute in Leningrad from 1953 to 1959.
Source: biography section
3.In what year did Victor Yudkovich Gankin receive his PhD in Organic Chemistry and Technology of Oxosynthesis Process?
- A.1968
- B.1959
- C.1964correct
- D.1970
Victor Yudkovich Gankin received his PhD from Leningrad State University in 1964.
Source: biography section
4.Where did Victor Yudkovich Gankin serve as a principal scientist from 1968 to 1991?
- A.Research Institute of Petrochemical Processescorrect
- B.Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis
- C.Leningrad State University
- D.Institute of Theoretical Chemistry
Victor Yudkovich Gankin worked as a principal scientist at the Research Institute of Petrochemical Processes in Leningrad.
Source: biography section
5.To which city in the United States did Victor Yudkovich Gankin immigrate in 1991?
- A.Shrewsbury, MA
- B.Boston, MAcorrect
- C.New York, NY
- D.Needham, MA
Victor Yudkovich Gankin immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1991.
Source: biography section
6.Which organization did Victor Yudkovich Gankin found in 1993?
- A.The Russian-American Science Foundation
- B.The Petrochemical Synthesis Institute
- C.The Institute of Theoretical Chemistrycorrect
- D.The Oxosynthesis Research Center
Victor Yudkovich Gankin founded the Institute of Theoretical Chemistry in 1993.
Source: biography section
7.How did the recycle process invented by Victor Yudkovich Gankin benefit the environment?
- A.It neutralized acid rain in industrial cities.
- B.It increased the manufacturing speed of isoprene production.
- C.It reduced the reliance on cobalt catalysts by 50 percent.
- D.It stopped the dumping of toxic organic materials into rivers.correct
The recycle process prevented ecological damage by stopping the dumping of toxic organic materials into rivers.
Source: scientific work section
8.What term did Victor Yudkovich Gankin coin for a new type of chemically active particles?
- A.Conencescorrect
- B.Styrols
- C.Oxosynthesites
- D.Isomers
Victor Yudkovich Gankin discovered coordinately unsaturated compounds and coined the term Conences for them.
Source: scientific work section
9.According to the paradigms proposed by Victor Yudkovich Gankin, how is the valence of an atom defined?
- A.By the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
- B.By the distance between the nucleus and the outermost electron shell.
- C.By the number of electrons in the outermost layer and the maximal number that can be situated there.correct
- D.By the magnetic charge of the atom within a covalent bond.
Victor Yudkovich Gankin defined valence based on the number of electrons in the outermost layer and the capacity of that layer.
Source: scientific work section
10.Approximately how many scientific papers did Victor Yudkovich Gankin co-author throughout his career?
- A.335
- B.129
- C.88
- D.152correct
Victor Yudkovich Gankin co-authored 152 scientific papers in Soviet and international journals.
Source: scientific work section
11.What product did Victor Yudkovich Gankin develop using a naphtheno-evaporative scheme between 1966 and 1970?
- A.Methylethyl ketone
- B.C4 aldehydecorrect
- C.Styrol
- D.3-methylgexanol
Between 1966 and 1970, Victor Yudkovich Gankin led the development of C4 aldehyde production using a naphtheno-evaporative scheme.
Source: scientific work section
12.Victor Yudkovich Gankin was a nominee for which significant award?
- A.St. Petersburg Chemical Academy Prize
- B.Major Lenin Awardcorrect
- C.Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- D.International Science Excellence Medal
Victor Yudkovich Gankin was a major Lenin Award nominee.
Source: awards section
13.Where did Victor Yudkovich Gankin die in 2014?
- A.Boston, Massachusetts
- B.Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
- C.Leningrad, Russia
- D.Needham, Massachusettscorrect
Victor Yudkovich Gankin died on 30 March 2014 in Needham, Massachusetts.
Source: biography section
14.Which of these is a book co-authored by Victor Yudkovich Gankin published in 2014?
- A.Theory of Chemical Bonds and Kinetics
- B.How chemical bonds form and chemical reactions proceed
- C.Twenty-first century general chemistrycorrect
- D.Oxosynthesis Process Guide
Victor Yudkovich Gankin co-authored the introductory teaching guide Twenty-first century general chemistry, published in 2014.
Source: bibliography section
15.What process did Victor Yudkovich Gankin research to reduce manufacturing costs by 24%?
- A.Styrol production from toluene
- B.High normal dicarbonic acids production
- C.Isoprene and dimethyl vinyl carbinol productioncorrect
- D.Methylethyl ketone production
Victor Yudkovich Gankin developed the production of isoprene and dimethyl vinyl carbinol via methyl butanediol, decreasing costs by 24%.
Source: scientific work section
16.Which award was granted to Victor Yudkovich Gankin for his industrial contributions?
- A.Leningrad Polytechnic Medal
- B.Boston Scientific Achievement Award
- C.Medal Best Inventor of USSRcorrect
- D.International Chemistry Excellence Trophy
Victor Yudkovich Gankin received the Medal Best Inventor of USSR.
Source: awards section
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