Oligomer properties, review

This article, while not being intended to provide a full account of poly(arylene)s, emphasises the synthetic aspects. The synthesis of conjugated oligomers and polymers is, however, always part of an interdisciplinaiy approach with their active physical function being a key concern. In that sense the research being reviewed above concentrates on physical properties rather than playing with exotic chemical structures. 

This article summarizes efforts undertaken towards the synthesis of the cyclo[ ]carbons, the first molecular carbon allotropes for which a rational preparative access has been worked out. Subsequently, a diversity of perethynylated molecules will be reviewed together, they compose a large molecular construction kit for acetylenic molecular scaffolding in one, two and three dimensions. Finally, progress in the construction and properties of oligomers and polymers with a poly(triacetylene) backbone, the third linearly conjugated, non-aromatic all-carbon backbone, will be reviewed. 

The synthesis, physical and mechanical properties of thermally curable oligomers primarily for use as high temperature composite matrices are reviewed. High temperature in this context is defined as having usable mechanical properties at 177°C and higher. 

The theoretical design of donor oligomers that gives parallel spins upon electron transfer is reported (Mizonchi et al. 1995). TTF and TSeF were nsed as the donor units in the corresponding ion-radical salts. Reviews by Enoki and Miyazaki (2004) as well as Turner and Day (2005) consider and explained magnetic properties of these systems from physical background. 

Recent work on the synthesis, structure and some properties of macromolecules bearing furan rings is discussed. Two basic sources of monomers are considered, viz. furfural for monomers apt to undergo chain polymerization and hydroxymethylfurfural for monomers suitable for step polymerization.Within the first context, free radical, catiomc and anionic systems are reviewed and the peculiarities arising from the presence of furan moieties in the monomer and/or the polymer examined in detail. As for the second context, the polymers considered are polyesters, polyethers, polyamides and polyurethanes. Finally, the chemical modification of aU these oligomers, polymers and copolymers is envisaged on the basis of the unique reactivity of the furan heterocycle. 

In liquid chromatography, affinity purification protocols (4-8) have been known for a long time. Naturally, electrophoresis can be used just as well to observe molecular or noncovalent interactions of DNA oligomers, provided the complex has distinct electrophoretic properties different from those of the free molecules. Therefore, affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) can be a powerful tool for studying DNA-drug or DNA-biopolymer interactions. Several reviews discussing these aspects of ACE have been published in recent years (9-19). The crucial aspects of DNA in this field are covered comprehensively in a recent overview article (20). 

Only a very few polynuclear complexes containing more than two chromium(III) centers have been studied so far. However, magnetochemical and inelastic neutron scattering studies, heat capacity measurements, and emission spectroscopy have been reported for various tetranuclear species (40,142 151). Two review articles dealing with the spectroscopic and magnetic properties of chromium(III) oligomers have recently appeared (127, 128). 

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