Structure and Reactivity in Reverse Micelles: (Studies in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)

This book gives an up-to-date, comprehensive assessment of current knowledge in the very fast-moving field of reverse micelles, ranging from physical studies to biotechnological applications. Starting with physical and spectroscopic studies of reverse micelle structure at the macro- and microstructural levels, topics dealt with in detail are the NMR spectroscopy of reverse micelles, fluorescence quenching kinetics, photochemical behaviour, role and behaviour of hydrated electrons in reverse micelles, including femtosecond phenomena, reactivity-dependent applications such as microlatex formation, protein partitioning, extraction, and purification. The microreactor characteristics of reverse micelles are shown to allow formation of semiconductor clusters, peptide synthesis through enzyme-catalyzed reactions, reaction product extraction, and enhanced-reactivity phenomena. The reactivity effects and their consequences are particularly highlighted throughout the book. The book will interest researchers involved with micelles, microemulsions, colloids, liquid interfaces, photochemistry and biophotochemistry, polymer science, as well as specialists in physics and chemical physics of condensed matter.

Table of Contents:
Introduction (M.P. Pileni). In search of microstructure (B.W. Ninham). Structure of reversed micelles (D. Langevin). Structural changes of reverse micelles and microemulsions by adding solutes of proteins (M.P. Pileni). What can be expected from NMR in reversed micelles? (A. Llor,T. Zemb). Fluorescence quenching in micellar systems (M. van der Auweraer, F.C. de Schryver). Proton transfer in reverse micelles and characterization of the acidity in the water pools (B. Valeur, E. Bardez). Femtosecond reactivity of excess electron in reversed micelles water pool (Y. Gauduel et al.). Photochemistry in reverse micelles (M.P. Pileni). Magnetic-field dependent reactions in reverse micellar systems (U.E. Steiner). Hydrated electrons in reverse micelles (M.P. Pileni). Synthesis and surface reactions of semiconductor crystallite clusters in reverse micelle media (M.L. Steigerwald, L.E. Brus). Microparticle synthesis and characterization in reverse micelles (B.H. Robinson et al.). Polymerization in and of inverse micelles (G. Voortmans, F.C. de Schryver). Enzymatic catalysis in reversed micelles (Yu.L. Khmelnitsky et al.). Some general considerations about the field of protein-containing reverse micelles (P.L. Luisi). Interphase transfer for selective solubilization of ions, amino acids and proteins in reversed micelles (E.B. Leodidis, T.A. Hatton). Protein partitioning between microemulsion phases and conjugate aqueous phases (P.D.I. Fletcher, D. Parrott). Applications of enzyme containing reversed micelles (R. Hilhorst). Reverse micelles as a model for the study of membrane proteins at myelin interlamellar aqueous spaces (C. Nicot, M. Waks). Inverse microlatexes: mechanism of formation and characterization (F. Candau, M. Carver). Subject Index.