Strained Hydrocarbons: Beyond the van't Hoff and Le Bel Hypothesis

In clearly structured chapters, this book covers the fascinating world of hydrocarbons, providing an insight into the fundamental principles of chemistry. The monograph covers modern aspects of the topic, such as carbon nanotubes, molecular flask inclusion, and fullerenes, with new synthetic procedures for the build up of the structural lattice included.

Presenting comprehensive and up-to-date state of the domain of highly strained hydrocarbons with unusual spatial structure, an experienced editor and top authors cover the whole range of these important molecules from [1.1.1]propellane to fullerenes and nanotubes. The necessity of studies in this area encompassing sometimes exotic molecules is discussed in detail showing their importance for basic science and practical applications. The fact that the latter cannot mostly be foreseen is amply documented.

Even not long ago, studying such molecules was an elitist activity, few synthetic chemists succeeded in their syntheses. Today, the field has broadened in view of emerging practical application and fullerenes and nanotubes are one of the most vividly developing domains.

Chapters include both experimental and theoretical studies. The former cover syntheses and unusual physicochemical properties related to the strain and untypical geometry of the molecules under scrutiny. The latter show importance of model calculations which help precise basic ideas of chemistry, such as the chemical bond, on the one hand, and are used to propose novel plausible synthetic targets, on the other.

The monograph aims not only at PhD students and newcomers in the field who seek for an introduction to this area but also at the specialists who want to obtain a broader perspective of this domain and make use of a comprehensive review of literature.

Helena Dodziuk worked for many years at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, at present at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, both of Polish Academy of Sciences. She is author or coauthor of over 100 publications, among them four books (one in Polish), 13 reviews and some popular articles. In addition to strained hydrocarbons with unusual spatial structure, she is interested in conformational analysis of hydrocarbons, classification of chiral molecules and isomers, NMR spectra and model calculations of cyclodextrin complexes, endohedral fullerene complexes and carbon nanotubes.