[1] Among the founders were academicians A. E. Favorsky, N. D. Zelinsky, V. N. Ipatiev, A. E. Chichibabin, and later N. Ya.

In 1953, the institute was named after Academician N. D. Zelinsky, who headed one of the departments from 1936 to 1953.

The world fame of the institute is associated with the names of many prominent scientists who worked there.

A. Kazansky, A. N. Nesmeyanov, I. N. Nazarov, I. L. Knunyants, A. E. Porai-Koshits, V. V. Korshak, L. F. Vereshchagin, M. M. Shemyakin, M. I. Kabachnik, H. M. Minachev.

At the same time, the traditional areas of research at the ZIOC expanded and developed.