Featured Faculty: Viktor Zhdankin
Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Interests: synthetic and mechanistic organic chemistry, chemistry of hypervalent iodine, organic chemistry of fluorine
Courses taught: Chem 2541-2542 (Organic Chemistry), Chem 5524 (Advanced Organic Chemistry), Chem. 5714 (Applications of Spectroscopy)
Website: http://www.d.umn.edu/~vzhdanki/ 
Dr. Zhdankin’s current research has been focused on the preparation and study of new hypervalent iodine compounds useful in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Recently he has discovered new heterocyclic systems incorporating trivalent or pentavalent iodine atoms into five or six-membered ring. Some of these novel compounds, such as esters and amides of iodoxybenzoic acid, have already found practical application as highly selective oxidizing reagents for organic synthesis. Dr. Zhdankin’s research program is aimed at the development of new synthetic methodologies for organic chemistry.
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| Research Students Sasha and Mekhman at the Chemistry NMR Facility | In Dr. Zhdankin’s Research Laboratory |
Since 1993, when Professor Zhdankin started teaching at UMD, 26 masters students and 41 undergraduates have completed research projects in his laboratory in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Professor Zhdankin has published over 200 refereed scientific papers, many of which are co-authored by his students. He was awarded with UMD Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Research in 2004 and with Jean G. Blehart Distinguished Teaching Award in 2006.
Organic Chemistry Class
Previous Featured Faculty: Karen Gran