Inorganic Rings and Polymers of the p-Block Elements: From Fundamentals to Applications

Ring systems represent a very important branch of organic chemistry. Benzene is perhaps the pre-eminent example and provides the benchmark for the so-called aromatic character of cyclic systems. Cycloalkanes are another prominent class of organic compounds and these saturated ring systems form a homologous series known as alicyclics. Materials that are constructed from organic polymers such as polythene, polystyrene, polyisoprene (natural rubber) and polyvinyl chloride are common features of our daily lives. Most of these and related organic polymers are generated from acyclic precursors by free radical, anionic, cationic or organometallic polymerisation processes or by condensation reactions. The focus of this book is monocyclic inorganic ring systems of the p-block elements and the polymers that are, in many cases derived from them. Bicyclic or polycyclic arrangements are considered when they are closely related to those of monocyclic systems. Inorganic heterocycles that are more accurately described as coordination complexes of chelating inorganic ligands are included only when they are directly related to an inorganic homocycle or heterocycle by the replacement of one p-block element by a more metallic p-block element. After a short introductory chapter, the first half of the book is comprised of seven chapters that deal with the fundamentals of the subject intended for undergraduates or researchers who are unfamiliar with the topic, covering the following areas: - synthetic methods - characterisation techniques - delocalisation in inorganic rings - paramagnetic inorganic rings - inorganic macrocycles - ligand chemistry - inorganic polymers (general concepts including, synthesis, structure and bonding, characterisation methods, properties and applications) The final four chapters discuss in detail the chemistry of inorganic homo- and hetero-cycles involving the elements of groups 13-16 (the p-block elements). The focus is on relating the early seminal contributions to the field with exciting new developments. From the fundamental standpoint, novel structures and new bonding concepts are highlighted, in addition to synthetic approaches. This is the first book that addresses both the fundamental and applied aspects of inorganic ring systems through an emphasis of their use as precursors to inorganic polymers and other useful materials (e.g. semiconductors and ceramics). The book is intended primarily for senior undergraduates and graduate students in inorganic chemistry, as well research workers in the field of inorganic ring systems and polymers. At the undergraduate level it serves as a supplementary text to the more general inorganic chemistry text books and at the graduate level it would be the text of choice for a course in the area of inorganic rings and polymers.

Professor Tristram Chivers has 40 years experience in the chemistry of inorganic ring systems, with an emphasis on groups 15 and 16. He is the author of a recent book (2005) entitled "A Guide to Chalcogen-Nitrogen Chemistry" (World Scientific/Imperial College Press) and has published approximately 350 articles in refereed journals, 21 book chapters and 23 review articles in the area of main group inorganic chemistry Professor Ian Manners has more than 20 years experience in the chemistry of inorganic rings systems and polymers of p-block elements, primarily groups 13-15. He is the author of one monograph entitled "Synthetic Metal-Containing Polymers" and has served as editor of two other books. He has published more than 350 articles in refereed journals, as well as numerous book chapters and review articles on inorganic rings and polymers. Both authors are recipients of numerous awards for research in this area including the Royal Society of Chemistry award for Main Group Chemistry (Chivers-1993, Manners-2006) and the Alcan Award (for Inorganic Chemistry) of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (Chivers-1987, Manners-2005). Professor Manners has also received the Corday-Morgan Medal (1997) from the U.K., an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (1994) from the U.S.A, the Steacie Prize (2000) from Canada, and the Polymer Science Award (2003) from the Chemical Institute of Canada. Professor Chivers received the E. W. R. Steacie award from the Canadian Society for Chemistry in 2001 and was honoured by the publication of a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Chemistry in 2002. Professor Manners and Chivers have been engaged in collaborative research in the area of inorganic rings and polymers since 1997.