Polyynes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Polyynes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications compiles information found scattered throughout the literature in inorganic, organic, and polymer chemistry into one cohesive volume. In addition to being a precursor of fullerenes, polyynes are one of the key precursors in the formation of soot and carbon dust, or elemental carbon in the galaxy, and their properties can be linked to interstellar band phenomena and other astrophysical behavior. More than 1,000 organic molecules produced by plants, fungi, and other microorganisms are also classified as polyynes, playing a biological role in nature that may be used in the treatment of diseases as antibiotics, anticancer, or anti-infective agents. Polyynes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications covers breakthrough discoveries, particularly the simplified synthesis of polyynes in solution stabilized by using appropriate end groups and carbon films achieved using chemical, electrochemical, and other sophisticated techniques. The book explains in great detail the conditions, apparatus, and experimental procedures to synthesize polyynes with consistent and reproducible results. By presenting new and unpublished results along with recent discoveries and theories, Polyynes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications reflects the thriving research status of polyynes in various disciplines as well as new ideas and guidelines for future research, discoveries, and applications of these molecules.

Table of Contents:
Preface . Editor. Contributors. Carbon Chain Molecules in Cryogenic Matrices. Synthesis and Characterization of Carbynoid Structures in Cluster-Assembled Carbon Films. Epitaxial Growth by D.C. Magnetron Sputtering of Carbyne (Chaoite) Microcrystals on CVD-Deposited Polycrystalline Diamond. Electrochemical Synthesis of Carbyne-Like Materials and Other Nanocarbons. Synthesis of Carbynoid Structures by the Combustion Flame Method. Cyclic Polyynes: Generation, Characterization, and Reactions. Formation of C2nH2 Polyynes by Laser Ablation of Graphite, Coal or C60 Particles Suspended in Selected Solvents. Polyynes: Synthesis with the Submerged Electric Arc. Polyynes (C2nH2, n= 2-5) and Other Products from Laser-Ablated Graphite: A Time-of-Flight Mass Spectroscopic Study in Combination with One-Photon Ionization. Polyyne-Type Materials. Carbon Material with a Highly Ordered Linear-Chain Structure. Synthesis of Carbynoid Materials by Chemical Dehydrohalogenation of Halogen-Containing Polymers. Ion Irradiation of Solid Carbons. Cyanoalkynes and Cyanopolyynes: From Crossed Beam Experiments to Astrochemistry. Synthesis of Monocyanopolyynes and Dicyanopolyynes with the Submerged Electric Arc. Natural Carbynes, Including Chaoite, on Earth, in Meteorites, Comets, Circumstellar and Interstellar Dust. Structures and Other Properties of Polyynes and their Isomers: Theoretical and Experimental Results. Polyynes: Possible Bulk Synthesis and Chemical Properties. From Natural to Rationally Designed Artificial Enediynes: Towards New Anticancer Antibiotics Activable at Will. Polyynes: Simple Synthesis in Solution Through the Glaser Reaction. Abbreviations. Index

Review :
"The strength of this collection is that it captures the full breadth of the field, including bulk and small-molecule synthesis, computational modeling, and studies ranging from astrochemistry and mineralogy to materials science and drug design...useful to chemists who want to learn more about how other scientists think about polyynes and the putative linear allotrope of carbon, carbyne. Because so many of the chapters were contributed by the editor, this book has more continuity than many edited volumes." -Nancy S. Goroff, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2006