Cyclic Polymers

Reviewing the many recent advances in this rapidly expanding subject since the publication of the first edition in 1986, this text describes the preparation, characterization, properties and applications of a wide range of organic and inorganic cyclic oligomers and polymers, and provides many examples of catenanes and rotaxanes. The importance of large cyclics in biological chemistry and molecular biology is emphasized by a wide coverage of circular DNA, cyclic peptides and cyclic oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Experimental techniques and theoretical aspects of cyclic polymers are included, as well as examples of their uses such as ring opening polymerization reactions to give commercially important materials. This book covers a wide range of topics which should be of interest to many scientific research workers (for example, in polymer science, chemistry and molecular biology), as well as providing a reference text for undergraduate and graduate students.