Vladimir Vasilyevich Markovnikov (1838-1904) – the eminent Russian chemist, author of one of the best known empiric rule in organic chemistry

Abstract

This is a survey of the literature concerning the empiric rule developed by Vladimir Vasilyevich Markovnikov in 1869 and its various, unauthentic versions, which are available in the organic chemistry textbooks published in the XX and XXI centuries. This survey is supplemented with: 1) information about Markovnikov’s chemical research, 2) selected facts of his life.

Keywords

• V.V. Markovnikov
• organic chemistry
• Markovnikov’s Rule
• unsaturated hydrocarbons
• Russia - XIX century