Irina Beletskaya

Irina Beletskaya is a Professor of Chemistry at Moscow State University and Head of the Laboratory of Organoelement Chemistry since 1989. She has been a Full Member of the Russian Academy of Science since 1992 and previously a Corresponding Member since 1974, with an academic career spanning over seven decades in chemical sciences.

• 1950-1955: Studentship at Moscow State University
• 1955-1958: PhD Student
• 1959: PhD for thesis "Electrophilic Reactions of Organomercury Compounds"
• 1963: DSc for thesis "Electrophilic Substitution at Saturated Carbon Atom"

Professor Beletskaya's research focuses on the boundary of organoelement compounds in organic synthesis and catalysis, with significant contributions to physical-organic chemistry. Her work bridges fundamental reaction mechanisms with practical applications, particularly in developing novel synthetic methodologies using organometallic compounds. She has established internationally recognized expertise in CH-acids and ambident anions as reflected in her influential monographs.

Her extensive publication record includes over 1,000 papers (200 in international journals), 4 monographs, 11 book chapters, and 40 review articles in top journals including Chemical Reviews and Tetrahedron, demonstrating consistent productivity and influence across decades.

Professor Beletskaya has received numerous prestigious international honors:

• Doctor Honoris Causa from multiple institutions including University of Cordova (1987), Technical University S.-Petersburg (1997), and University of Alicante (2014)
• Kapitza Award (1993) and State Prize of Russian Federation (2004)
• IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry Award (2013)
• Butlerov Golden Medal (2018) and V.V. Markovnikov Medal (2017)

She has supervised 80 completed PhD dissertations and 16 DSc theses while serving in significant editorial roles including Editor-in-Chief of the Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry and membership on boards of Journal of Organometallic Chemistry and Chemistry A European Journal. Her international leadership includes presidency of IUPAC's Organic Chemistry Division (1987-1991) and Vice-Chair of IUPAC's Committee on Chemical Weapons Destruction (1991-2005).

Currently leading the Laboratory of Organoelement Chemistry at Moscow State University, she maintains active participation in COST programs and continues to influence global chemical research through her ongoing scientific activities and mentorship.