Valeh Ismayilov was born on 15 March 1943. In 1961, he was admitted to Kazan Chemical Technology University. In 1966, he took a job of a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. In 1967, he embarked on postgraduate studies in organic chemistry at Kazan Chemical Technology University, Department of Organic Chemistry. In 1970, he defended a PhD thesis and achieved a ScD degree in 1985 at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Ukrainian SSR. In 1986, he was made a professor.

In 1973, Valeh Ismayilov started his research and teaching activity at BSU Department of Organic Chemistry, where he served as a laboratory assistant, teaching assistant, senior teacher and associate professor.

From 1988 to 1993, he worked as dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, BSU.

In 1970, he started reading lectures on theoretical foundations of organic chemistry and stereochemistry for teachers attending improvement courses. He headed the scientific student society of the department, publishing together with students tens of papers in leading periodicals of USSR.

His research interests lie in chemical qualities and structure of carbonyland β-dicarbonyl compounds. He has published 275 papers and education handbooks. He co-authored an education handbook together with employees of Marmara University, Turkey. He has supervised over 20 master and 10 PhD students to completion.

Valeh Ismayilov is the recipient of “Taraqqi” Medal.