Short historical digression of becoming and development of L.M. Litvinenko Institute of physical-organic chemistry and coal chemistry of NAS of Ukraine is presented. The review of basic scientific directions of activity and most ponderable fundamental achievements of Institute, and solved on their basis of a number of important applied tasks is made. The contribution of Institute to determination of reasons of origin of technogenic accidents and ecocatastrophes, and also in development of methods of their prevention and liquidation is shown. Problems and prospects of Institute in modern conditions are analysed.