Department of Organic Chemistry was founded in 1925 on the basis of the Chemical Department of the metallurgical faculty of the Mining Institute, its head being Professor Yu.V. Korshun until 1930. At that time, the staff of the Department worked on the issues of chemistry of heterocyclic compounds, including compounds of the pyroline series.

In 1930, the Department was headed by the doctor of chemical sciences, professor P.A. Bobrov; from 1931 to 1938, it was headed by a candidate of chemical sciences, associate professor Ye.S. Wasserman, in 1938-1941 years – by doctor of chemistry, professor I.O. Trefiliev. V.A. Aleksieieva, M.I. Savin, M.S. Rovinskyi, R.I. Dubrovska, K.M. Rafalovich, G.I. Beskina worked at the Department in those years, having started their work as teachers and then continued working as associate professors. The scientific direction in those years was focused on the problems of synthesis of semi-finished products and dyes based on coke-based raw materials. From 1938, the department was engaged in chemical processing of plant raw materials.

In 1941-1951, the Department was headed by the candidate of chemical sciences, assistant professor M.I. Savin. In addition to the educational work at the Department, special tasks of the defense enterprises of the city of Kemerovo were fulfilled in that perid. In 1952 – 1953, the Department was headed by the doctor of chemical sciences, professor V.G. Panasiuk, and from 1953 to 1965 it was headed by a Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor O.E. Cretov. During the period from 1953 to 1965, the research work of the Department under the direction of Professor O.E. Kretov was associated with solving important industrial problems in developing the optimal technological parameters of methods for the synthesis of monomers, as well as derivatives of cyanides, maleimides, and the like. At the same time, a group works at the Department, and then a branch laboratory under the direction of Professor V.G. Panasiuk for the chemical processing of plant waste from agriculture.

In 1965-1990, the Department was headed by a doctor of chemical sciences, professor M.M. Kremliov; in 1990-1995 – candidate of chemical sciences, associate professor O.V. Kharchenko; since 1995 it was headed by the doctor of chemical sciences, professor A.P. Ranskyi.

In the period from 1965 to 1997, the general scientific direction, under the direction of Professor M.M. Kretov, was the study and development of the reactions of aresulfonylamidation and aresulfonyliminating hydrocarbons, the reaction of sulfinamidine condensation in the oxidation of aresulfonyl-dichloromidine compounds, which are prone to thion-thiol tautomerism.

The reaction of aresulfonylimination allowed to obtain a number of hard-to-reach carbonyl compounds, and the reaction of aresulfonylamidation made readily available compounds that are highly reactive and are important intermediates in the chemistry of phenanthrene, anthracene, diphenyl and a number of new heterocyclic systems. The synthesized new compounds showed high biochemical activity against tumor cells, as well as pesticides, effective vulcanizing additives for elastomers, initiators of polymerization of monomers, PVC stabilizers, dye intermediates, analytical reagents, selective noodle platinum flotators. In conducting research work on this direction, a whole galaxy of scientists was grown, which later formed the core of the pedagogical staff of the Department: candidates of chemical sciences G.V. Tikhonova, M.P Bezverkhyi, V.A. Aleksenko, N.D. Warts, R.P. Naumenko, I.V. Koval, S.A. Boiko, G.I. Moskalenko, O.I. Tarasenko, V.O. Martiushenko, V.F. Baranovska, S.I. Zlotchenko, O.V. Kharchenko.

Within the framework of this direction, with the purpose of in-depth scientific cooperation of university and academic science, by the Decree No. 284 of June 24, The Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Collegium of the Ministry of Higher Education of Ukraine established a laboratory “Synthesis of Biologically Active Organic Compounds” (IBONH Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the DCTI Minvuzu of Ukraine).

Now the staff of the Department has been expanded by new teachers, candidates of chemical sciences, associate professors L.M. Shebitchenko, V.V. Kiseliov, N.M. Shevchenko, assistants I.V. Markova, O.V. Ohhtina, S.R. Boiko.

Modern scientific subjects of the Department are connected with the synthesis of new biologically active derivatives of nitrogen and sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds, studying their reactivity and possible practical application. Under the direction of Professor O.V. Prosianyk, not only scientific fundamental research related to the synthesis and study of the configurational stability of the nitrogen atom in organic compounds are carried out, but also important practical work on the synthesis of plant growth regulators (drug “Fumar”).

Teachers of Department of Organic Chemistry participate annually in the “School of Young Chemist”, which was established by PhD M.S. Rovenskyi in the early 60’s at the Department.

Under the direction of professors A.P  Ranskyi and O.V. Kharchenko, a scientific direction in the synthesis of new acyclic and heterocyclic sulfur and nitrogen-containing compounds and complex compounds on their basis is actively developed, as well as new biologically active substances and additives that improve the performance of various hydrocarbon materials.

Since 2009, O.V. Prossianyk is the head of Department of Organic Chemistry at SHEI USUCT.

During the years, 4 doctoral and 57 candidate’s theses have been defended. The following scientists learned at the Department, mastered the basics of scientific work, and then became its outstanding graduates: NAS academician V.P. Kukhar (IBONH NAS of Ukraine), Doctor of Chemical Sciences B.O. Heller (ICH NAS of Ukraine); doctor of chemistry, professor K.O. Chervynskyi (Chernivtsi State University); doctor of chemistry, professor I.V. Koval (SHEI USUCT); doctor of chemical sciences S.P. Ivonin.