Vladimir Rodionov

Born Oct. 16 (28), 1878, in Moscow; died there Feb. 7, 1954. Soviet chemist. Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1943; corresponding member, 1939).

Rodionov graduated from Dresden Technical University in 1901 and the Moscow Higher Technical School in 1906. He then worked as an engineer at various chemical plants. In 1920 he became a professor at the Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering and at other higher educational institutions in Moscow. He was also a scientific consultant for a number of institutes and plants.

Rodionov’s main works were devoted to organic compounds, among them amino acids, dyes, alkaloids, pharmaceutical preparations, vitamins, and perfumes. Rodionov contributed to the creation and development of the aniline dye and pharmaceutical industries in the USSR as well as the production of synthetic perfumes. In 1946 he became vice-president and, in 1950, president of the D. I. Mendeleev All-Union Chemical Society. Rodionov was awarded the State Prize of the USSR (1946, 1949, 1950), the Order of Lenin, two other orders, and various medals.