MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is one of the latest and most fascinating new developments in the analysis of organic compounds. Originally developed for the analysis of biomolecules, it has developed into one of the most powerful techniques for the characterization of synthetic polymers. This book describes the fundamentals of the MALDI process and the technical features of MALDI-TOF instrumentation. It reviews the application of MALDI-TOF for identification, chemical and molar mass analysis of synthetic polymers. With many examples, this monograph examines in detail experimental protocols for the determination of endgroups, the analysis of copolymers and additives, and the coupling of liquid chromatography and MALDI-TOF.

In the past decades, the scan rate range of calorimeters has been extended tremendously at the high end, from approximately 10 up to 10 000 000 DegreesC/s and more. The combination of various calorimeters and the newly-developed Fast Scanning Calorimeters (FSC) now span 11 orders of magnitude, by which many processes can be mimicked according to the time scale(s) of chemical and physical transitions occurring during cooling, heating and isothermal stays in case heat is exchanged. This not only opens new areas of research on polymers, metals, pharmaceuticals and all kinds of substances with respect to glass transition, crystallization and melting phenomena, it also enables in-depth study of metastability and reorganization of samples on an 1 to 1000 ng scale. In addition, FSC will become a crucial tool for understanding and optimization of processing methods at high speeds like injection molding. The book resembles the state-of-the art in Thermal Analysis & Calorimetry and is an excellent starting point for both experts and newcomers in the field.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

In this PhD thesis, Yue Yanan addresses a long-overlooked and critical question in the development of non-viral vectors for gene delivery. The author determines that those uncomplexed and cationic polymer chains free in the solution mixture of polymer and DNA facilitate and promote gene transfection. Furthermore, by using a combination of synthetic chemistry, polymer physics and molecular biology, Yue confirms that it is those cationic polymer chains free in the solution mixture, rather than those bound to DNA chains, that play a decisive role in intracellular trafficking. Instead of the previously proposed and widely accepted "proton sponge" model, the author's group propose a new hypothesis based on the results of several well-designed and decisive experiments. These results show that free polycationic chains with a length of more than ~10 nm are able to partially block the fusion between different endocytic vesicles, including the endocytic-vesicle-to-endolysosome pathway. This thesis is highly original and its results greatly deepen our understanding of polymer-mediated gene transfection. More importantly, it provides new insights into the rational design of next-generation superior polymeric gene-delivery vectors.

Over the past few decades, mankind has observed an unprecedented and remarkable growth in industry, resulting in a more prosperous lifestyle for peoples of many countries. In developing countries, however, explosive industrial growth is just now beginning to raise the living standards of the people. Most industries, especially in these developing countries, are still powered by the burning of fossil fuels; con- quently, a lack of clean energy resources has caused environmental pollution on an unprecedented large and global scale. Toxic wastes have been relentlessly released into the air and water leading to serious and devastating environmental and health problems while endangering the planet and life itself with the effects of global warming. To address these urgent environmental issues, new catalytic and photocatalytic processes as well as open-atmospheric systems are presently being developed that can operate at room temperature while being totally clean and ef?cient and thus environmentally harmonious. Essential to technologies harnessing the abundant solar energy that reaches the earth are the highly functional photocatalytic proce- es that can utilize not only UV light, but also visible light.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

The idea for this book came from discussions among participants in a symposium on biotechnical applications at the "Pacifichem 89" meeting in Honolulu. It was the majority opinion of this group that a volume dedicated to biotechnical and biomedical applications of PEG chemistry would enhance research and development in this area. Though the book was conceived at the Honolulu meeting, it is not a proceedings of this symposium. Several groups who did not participate in this meeting are repre sented in the book, and the book incorporates much work done after the meeting. The book does not include contributions in all related areas to which PEG chemistry has been applied. Several invited researchers declined to parti.: ipate, and there is not enough space in this single volume to properly cover all submissions. Chapter I-an overview of the topic-discusses in brief applications not given detailed coverage in specifically devoted chapters. The following topics are covered: introduction to and fundamental properties of PEG and derivatives in Chapters 1-3; separations using aqueous polymer two-phase partitioning in Chapters 4-6; PEG-proteins as catalysts in biotechnical applications in Chapters 7 and 8; biomedical applications of PEG-proteins in Chapters 9-13; PEG modified surfaces for a variety of biomedical and biotechnical applications in Chapters 14-20; and synthesis of new PEG derivatives in Chapters 21 and 22."

Miao Guo's PhD thesis provides scientific insights into the environmental issues related to biocomposites based on starch-polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) blends. The author contributes significantly to the methodological issues underlying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) modelling approach. As well as presenting complete LCA inventories using primary data from a variety of sources, Guo develops a new modelling approach incorporating the process-oriented biogeochemistry model Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) into site-specific LCA studies to simulate carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the wheat agro-ecosystem. This thesis addresses important LCA data quality issues by using comprehensive sensitivity and uncertainty analyses and has resulted in a large number of publications in internationally renowned journals.

'An excellent textbook for an advanced undergraduate or introductory graduate course on polymer chemistry. ...The book is easy to read and understand. The emphasis on commercially important materials makes it a definite choice for a textbook.' -Microchemical Journal 'This exellent, well-written book, suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate level classes in polymer syntheses, would also be useful as a general resource book....thoroughly referenced, and contain[s] excellent problem sets.' -Choice This outstanding text combines comprehensive discussions of reaction mechanisms of polymer chemistry with detailed descriptions of practical industrial applications. Intended for graduate students and professionals, this text examines topics at the forefront of today's research-including high performance materials, polymeric reagents and catalysts, and ultraviolet light curing of polymeric coatings. Each chapter contains helpful review questions reinforcing key points. The book also features useful appendixes describing two highly applicable computer programs.

Carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond-forming reactions are the backbone of synthetic organic chemistry. Scientists are constantly developing and improving these techniques in order to maximize the diversity of synthetically available molecules. These techniques must be developed in a sustainable manner in order to limit their environmental impact. This book highlights green bond forming reactions for bioactive scaffolds.

Carbohydrate Chemistry provides review coverage of all publications relevant to the chemistry of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in a given year. The amount of research in this field appearing in the organic chemical literature is increasing because of the enhanced importance of the subject, especially in areas of medicinal chemistry and biology. In no part of the field is this more apparent than in the synthesis of oligosaccharides required by scientists working in glycobiology. Clycomedicinal chemistry and its reliance on carbohydrate synthesis is now very well established, for example, by the preparation of specific carbohydrate- based antigens, especially cancer-specific oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Coverage of topics such as nucleosides, amino-sugars, alditols and cyclitols also covers much research of relevance to biological and medicinal chemistry. Each volume of the series brings together references to all published work in given areas of the subject and serves as a comprehensive database for the active research chemist Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis.

The present volume is the third volume of a projected four-volume series. This volume contains the following chapters: ."The Synthesis and Reactions of Pyrrole, Pyrazole, Triazole, Indole, Indazole, and Benzotriazole Nucleosides and Nucleotides," "The Synthesis, Reactions, and Properties of the 2'(3')-O-Aminoacyl and Peptidyl Nucleosides and Nucleotides," "Syntheses and Reactions of Bicyclic Heterocyclic Nucleosides and Nucleotides," "The Synthesis and Chemistry of Imidazole and Benzimidazole Nucleosides and Nucleotides," and "The Chemistry of C-Nucleosides." Each chapter is comprehensive in nature and should provide a ready reference source for not only the novice but also the experienced investiga tor or researcher. The chapters have been prepared by authors with considerable experience in each particular area of research, and this has resulted in a lucid presentation of each well-defined area. These volumes (1-3) were designed with medicinal chemists, medicinal organic chemists, organic chemists, carbohydrate chemists, physical chemists, and biological chemists in mind. However, because of the tremendous recent interest in this research area owing to the biological and chemotherapeutic evaluation ofnucleosides and nucleotides as anticancer, antiviral, and antiparasitic agents, these volumes should also be valuable additions to the libraries of virologists, biochemical phar macologists, oncologists, and pharmacologists. We would like to thank the authors for their enthusiasm and help in making these volumes available to the scientific community."

The two special volumes of Advances in Polymer Science entitled Polymers for Photonics Applications provide authoritative and critical reviews of up-to-date research and advances in various fields of photonic polymers as well as their promising applications. Eight articles contributed by internationally recognized scientists are concerned with polymers for second- and third-order nonlinear optics, quadratic parametric interactions in polymer waveguides, electroluminescent polymers for light sources, photoreflective polymers for holographic information storage, and highly efficient two-photon absorbing organics and polymers, including their applications. This review should provide individuals working in the field of photonic polymers with invaluable scientific knowledge on the state of the art while giving directions for future research to those deeply interested.

The series Structure and Bonding publishes critical reviews on topics of research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research scientists at universities or in industry, graduate students Special offer for all customers who have a standing order to the print version of Structure and Bonding, we offer free access to the electronic volumes of the Series published in the current year via SpringerLink.

The series Topics in Organometallic Chemistry presents critical overviews of research results in organometallic chemistry. As our understanding of organometallic structure, properties and mechanisms increases, new ways are opened for the design of organometallic compounds and reactions tailored to the needs of such diverse areas as organic synthesis, medical research, biology and materials science. Thus the scope of coverage includes a broad range of topics of pure and applied organometallic chemistry, where new breakthroughs are being achieved that are of significance to a larger scientific audience. The individual volumes of Topics in Organometallic Chemistry are thematic. Review articles are generally invited by the volume editors. All chapters from Topics in Organometallic Chemistry are published OnlineFirst with an individual DOI. In references, Topics in Organometallic Chemistry is abbreviated as Top Organomet Chem and cited as a journal.

In order to make further progress in elucidating the mechanism of NOS catalysis it will be essential to throw light on the interaction between the enzyme and its substrate. An understanding of the catalytic site will also assist the development of therapeutically important NOS inhibitors. In particular. it will be useful to uncover any differences that exist between the substrate binding sites of the three NOS isozymes which might be exploited for the development of isoform selective NOS inhibitors. A comparison of NOS to other Arg-binding proteins has shown no significant sequence homology (159). Moreover, the lack of a 3D structure and absence of significant sequence homology between the NOS oxygenase domain and known cytochromes P450 has made it difficult to identify residues and construct a model of the distal heme pocket responsible for substrate binding. However, a number of groups are currently working towards crystallisation of the separate NOS reductase and oxygenase domains of the three isoforms for X-ray diffraction studies; the first X-ray structure is likely to be forthcoming within a matter of months. * The results of these studies are expected to resolve many of the uncertainties surrounding the structure of the NOS catalytic site. Preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of CPR from rat liver has already been reported by MASTERS et al. (524) and the future emergence of a detailed structure for this protein should throw light on the structure and function of the NOS reductase domain.

1 D.E. Bergbreiter, A.M. Kippenberger: Hyperbranched Surface Graft Polymerizations.- 2 R.R. Bhat, M.R. Tomlinson, T. Wu, J. Genzer: Surface-Grafted Polymer Gradients: Formation, Characterization and Applications.- 3 W.J. Brittain, S.G. Boyes, A.M. Granville, M. Baum, B.K. Mirous, B. Akgun, B. Zhao, C. Blickle, M.D. Foster: Surface Rearrangement of Diblock Copolymer Brushes - Stimuli Responsive Films.- 4 A. Naji, C. Seidel, R.R. Netz: Theoretical Approaches to Neutral and Charged Polymer Brushes.-

Synthesis of Polypeptides by Ring-Opening Polymerization of -Amino Acid N-Carboxyanhydrides, by Jianjun Cheng and Timothy J. Deming.- Peptide Synthesis and Self-Assembly, by S. Maude, L. R. Tai, R. P. W. Davies, B. Liu, S. A. Harris, P. J. Kocienski and A. Aggeli.- Elastomeric Polypeptides, by Mark B. van Eldijk, Christopher L. McGann, Kristi L. Kiick andJan C. M. van Hest.- Self-Assembled Polypeptide and Polypeptide Hybrid Vesicles: From Synthesis to Application, by Uh-Joo Choe, Victor Z. Sun, James-Kevin Y. Tan and Daniel T. Kamei.- Peptide-Based and Polypeptide-Based Hydrogels for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering, by Aysegul Altunbas and Darrin J. Pochan.-"

Volume C forms one volume of a Handbook about Polymer Nanocomposites. Volume C deals with Polymer nano-composites of cellulose nano-particles. The preparation, architecture, characterisation, properties and application of polymer nanocomposites are discussed within some 27 chapters. Each chapter has been authored by experts in the respective field.

The volumes of this classic series, now referred to simply as "Zechmeister" after its founder, L. Zechmeister, have appeared under the Springer Imprint ever since the series inauguration in 1938. The volumes contain contributions on various topics related to the origin, distribution, chemistry, synthesis, biochemistry, function or use of various classes of naturally occurring substances ranging from small molecules to biopolymers. Each contribution is written by a recognized authority in his field and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the topic in question. Addressed to biologists, technologists, and chemists alike, the series can be used by the expert as a source of information and literature citations and by the non-expert as a means of orientation in a rapidly developing discipline.

This Springer Laboratory volume introduces the reader to advanced techniques for the separation and fractionation of polyolefins. It includes detailed information on experimental protocols and procedures, addressing the experimental background of different polyolefin fractionation techniques in great detail. The book summarizes important applications in all major fractionation methods with emphasis on multidimensional analytical approaches. It comprises the most powerful modern techniques, such as high temperature size exclusion chromatography (HT-SEC) for molar mass analysis, temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) and crystallization analysis fractionation (CRYSTAF) for the analysis of chemical composition and branching, high temperature two-dimensional liquid chromatography (HT-2D-LC), solvent and temperature gradient interaction chromatography (SGIC and TGIC) and crystallization elution fractionation (CEF). Beginners as well as experienced chromatographers will benefit from this concise introduction to a great variety in instrumentation, separation procedures and applications. With detailed descriptions of experimental approaches for the analysis of complex polyolefins, the readers are offered a toolbox to solve simple as well as sophisticated separation tasks. The book starts with an introduction into the molecular complexity of polyolefins - the most widely used synthetic polymers with rapidly growing production capacities. It systematically discusses crystallization based fractionation techniques including TREF, CRYSTAF and CEF and column chromatographic techniques for molar mass, chemical composition and microstructure, as well as the combination of different fractionations in multidimensional experimental setups. This book also includes basic information on the application of high-temperature field-flow fractionation.

Structural crystallographic studies can determine not only the full stereochemistry of chemical species but also their details of arrangement in the crystal. Such geometrical data provide an essential basis for the interpretation of chemical, physical, and biological properties of chemical species. This volume contains key papers presented at the seventh symposium on organic crystal chemistry at Poznan in Poland. Among the themes discussed were factors influencing molecular conformation and polymorphism, chemical and biological activity, intermolecular interactions, crystal chemistry of polymers and molecular modelling.

Bismuth Catalysts in Aqueous Media, by Shu Kobayashi, Masaharu Ueno and Taku Kitanosono.- Pentavalent Organobismuth Reagents in Organic Synthesis: Alkylation, Alcohol Oxidation and Cationic Photopolymerization , by Yoshihiro Matano.- Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth(III) Compounds, by Scott W. Krabbe and Ram S. Mohan.- Bismuth-Catalyzed Addition of Silyl Nucleophiles to Carbonyl Compounds and Imines, by Thierry Ollevier.- Bismuth Salts in Catalytic Alkylation Reactions, by Magnus Rueping and Boris J. Nachtsheim.- New Applications for Bismuth(III) Salts in Organic Synthesis: From Bulk Chemicals to Steroid and Terpene Chemistry, by J. A. R. Salvador, S. M. Silvestre, R. M. A. Pinto, R. C. Santos and C. Le Roux.- Cationic Bismuth-Catalyzed Hydroamination and Direct Substitution of the Hydroxy Group in Alcohols with Amides, by Shigeki Matsunaga and Masakatsu Shibasaki.- Transition-Metal Catalyzed C-C Bond Formation Using Organobismuth Compounds, by Shigeru Shimada and Maddali L. N. Rao.- Bismuth(III) Salts as Synthetic Tools in Organic Transformations, by J. S. Yadav, Aneesh Antony and Basi V. Subba Reddy.