Polymer International 42 (1997) 441È442

Book Reviews

Mesomolecules : from molecules to materialsSearch series, vol. 1Edited by G. D. Mendenhall, A. Greenberg and J. F. Leibman.Chapman & Hall, New York, 1995.pp. xi ] 199, price £39.00.ISBN 0-412-03811-0

As the title implies, this is a progression from species of molec-ular size to the description of products which may bedescribed on the basis of continuing properties. Over the lastten years there has developed a greater awareness of theimportance of shape and moleculeÈmolecule interaction indeÐning the properties of materials. In the seven chapters, awide variety of di†erent conceptual approaches are explored.

Chapter 1 is a discussion going from molecules to materials,which jumps from polymers to proteins through molecularaggregates to inorganic gels. Chapter 2 is concerned withcascade molecules, or dendritic macromolecules ; Chapter 3with dendritic polynuclear metal complexes ; Chapter 4, onmolecular techtronics, exempliÐes the way in which hydrogenbonding can be used to build up large-scale organised struc-tures similar to those found in biological molecules. Theconcept of large three-dimensional structures is extended inChapter 5 with supramolecular assemblies from “tinker toyÏrigid-rod molecules. It is concerned with sta†anes and the wayin which these molecules can be linked to form extendedthree-dimensional structures. Chapter 6 is concerned withgraphite, Ñat, Ðbrous and spherical. In contrast to previouschapters, concerned with a sophisticated synthesis to formthree-dimensional structures, this chapter predominantly con-siders carbon and the way in which it can generate a widerange of di†erent topographies. It might be referred to as “ful-lerenes and beyondÏ ; and discusses a whole range of di†erenttypes of carbon structures which can be observed and the wayin which these may be related to the fullerene type of struc-ture. Chapter 7, although not numbered as such, is entitled“Fractal index and fractal notationÏ. This short chapterattempts to present the appropriate IUPAC convention andto resolve some of the issues around nomenclature in thisarea.

With dendrimers now being commonplace in the polymerliterature, a book which reviews the wealth of structures andfunctionalities now being produced should be a stimulus topolymer chemists interested in generating fractal materialswith speciÐc functionalities. This book attempts to bridgepolymers and biomimics and should be an inspiration tothose wishing to seek new functional materials. It is a topicalbook, of interest to both polymer and organic chemists.

R. A. Pethrick

Chemically modiÐed surfaces : recent developmentsEdited by J. J. Pesek, M. T. Matyska and R. R. Abuelafiya.Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1996.pp. x ] 143, price £49.50, US$89.00.ISBN 0-85404-780-8

This volume is the proceedings of the sixth International Sym-posium on Chemically ModiÐed Surfaces held in San Jose, Cali-fornia, in 1995. It focuses mainly on ion silica surfaces. Thereare twenty-four chapters, which vary from complete abstractsto single-page summaries. Nine of the contributions deal withpolymer surfaces and include topics as diverse as plasmatreatment of Ñuorocarbons, modiÐed conducting polymers,polysiloxanes, self-assembly molecular layers and adsorptionof polyacrylate on alumina. Only two of the chapters arereally of interest to polymer scientists and it is doubtful ifthese will justify the purchase of this volume. It is indicatedthat there will be a conference in 1997. If the Royal Society ofChemistry is going to publish the proceedings, I suggest thatthey ensure the publication is more comprehensive than thispresent one. Eleven of the chapters are half-page abstracts andhence of limited value. I cannot recommend purchase of thisvolume as being good value for money.

R. A. Pethrick

Specialist periodical reports : photochemistry volume 26A. Gilbert, N. S. Allen, A. Cox, R. B. Cundall,W. M. Horspool, S. T. Reid and A. C. Weedon.The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1995.pp. x ] 475, price £179.50, US$319.00.ISBN 0-85404-400-0

The latest volume in this long-established series is devoted tothe literature published between July 1993 and June 1994, andis the combined work of seven distinguished reporters. Fol-lowing a brief “Introduction and review of the yearÏ, the con-tents are divided into four parts. The Ðrst of these, “Physicalaspects of photochemistryÏ, concentrates upon photophysicalprocesses in condensed phases. Triplet state processes arereviewed at some length, including those of fullerenes andcyclooctatetraene.

Part two, “Organic aspects of carbonyl compoundsÏ is thelongest (289 pages) and accounts for 1267 of the total of 2698references cited. It is subdivided into seven chapters dealingvariously with the photochemistry of di†erent compounds (e.g.alkenes and alkynes, aromatic systems) or with reactions,including photoelimination, photoreduction and photooxida-tion.

441Polymer International 0959-8103/97/$09.00 1997 SCI. Printed in Great Britain(