Volume 27, Number 1

32

Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 27, Number 1  (2002)

Zinin described his continuing investigation of

methods to produce different aromatic amines in two

papers in 1844 and 1845, his last publications before he

left Kazan’ University (42).  The first paper examines

the use of ammonium sulfide to form diaminobenzene

from dinitrobenzene, and likewise for the analogous

naphthalene compounds.  In the second work Zinin de-

scribed a method to produce benzidine from azobenzene

and a method to produce azoxybenzene from nitroben-

zene.  To produce benzidine Zinin reduced azobenzene

with ammonium sulfide, then treated the product with

weak sulfuric acid.  He showed that hydrazobenzene

was formed from azoxybenzene, and then in the pres-

ence of acid it underwent a rearrangement to form ben-

zidine.  As in his earlier papers, Zinin did not include

any discussion of possible theoretical significance for

this work.

In 1847, Zinin learned that the kafedra of chemis-

try and physics at the Medical-Surgical Academy in St.

Petersburg was vacant.  An old friend of Zinin’s, Pro-

fessor P. A. Dubovitskii, who taught at the Medical-Sur-

gical Academy and at that time was its secretary, urged

Zinin to submit his name as a candidate for this position

(43).  At about this same time, Zinin delivered a public

lecture at Kazan’ University titled “A View of the Cur-

rent Direction of Organic Chemistry” (44).  In this

speech, Zinin did not discuss his current work in or-

ganic chemistry or related studies but focused, instead,

on two main themes.  The first and main theme con-

cerned the importance of organic chemistry for under-

standing the physiology of plants and animals.  Zinin

closely followed Liebig’s ideas, particularly from Chem-

istry and its Applications to Agriculture (1840) and Ani-

mal Chemistry (1842), although he did not emphasize

that fact.  The other theme in this speech was a strong

critique of Naturphilosophie and similar trends, which

were grouped by Zinin with astrology and alchemy as

not being scientific methods of analysis.  In addition to

being valuable as a reflection of his ideas at that time,

this speech likely was connected to his attempt to ob-

tain the position at the Medical-Surgical Academy.

During his years in Kazan’, Zinin had shown little in-

terest in research on questions concerning physiology

or agriculture although he did sometimes teach a course

about physiology.  Perhaps this public lecture was a way

for him to indicate his acquaintance with the topics that

he would be responsible for teaching at the Medical-

Surgical Academy.

Apparently, Zinin did enter the competition for the

position at the Medical-Surgical Academy since on Oc-

tober 20, 1847, the War Minister sent a petition to the

Minister of Education stating that Zinin had been elected

as ordinary professor of chemistry and physics at the

Medical-Surgical Academy.  The War Minister requested

that Zinin be transferred to the authority of the War Min-

istry (45).  However, the Minister of Education did not

want to allow this transfer and used almost the same

language in his reply that the curator had used in 1840

to thwart Zinin’s move to Khar’kov University (46).

When he found out about the decision of the Academy,

Zinin quickly petitioned the rector of Kazan’ Univer-

sity about a transfer to the War Ministry.  His petition

made it clear that his main reason for requesting this

move was his desire to teach pure chemistry and not

technology (47):

Your Excellency knows that I have devoted many

years to the study of chemistry and the natural sci-

ences necessary for a full understanding of this branch

of knowledge.  The duties of the kafedra of technol-

ogy have diverted me particularly from laboratory

work in chemistry, which has more affinity to my

knowledge and abilities [than technology].  In addi-

tion, the Kazan’ climate and provincial conditions of

life have for some time been causing problems for

my health.  For these reasons and mainly from the

desire for the opportunity to use my abilities for the

benefit of society and science, I humbly request that

Your Excellency petition the higher authorities to

transfer me to service at the Medical-Surgical Acad-

emy.

Again, Zinin’s request was not granted.  This put him in

an extremely difficult position.  In order to leave Kazan’

and finally shed his position as professor of technology,

he would need to find some way to get around the re-

fusal of the Ministry of Education to agree to his trans-

fer to the War Ministry.  Zinin finally resolved to re-

quest that he be released entirely from service in the

Ministry of Education, and the Minister had little choice

but to grant it (48).  The Medical-Surgical Academy then

again elected Zinin as ordinary professor of chemistry

and physics, and the War Minister ratified the decision

(49).  At long last, Zinin could escape Kazan’ and jetti-

son the unwanted position as professor of technology.

After a period of scientific inactivity following his

move to St. Petersburg, Zinin resumed his research by

returning to materials that he had studied previously.  In

1852, he published articles concerning the production

of mustard oil, and in 1854 he studied the concept of

substitution in organic compounds using mustard oil as

a starting material.  Later, he continued his work on re-

actions involving benzil, benzoin, and other substances.

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