Photochemistry of Macromolecules

Our knowledge of the photodegradation of polymers, chemical evolution, photosynthesis, visual perception and the biological effects of light depends heavily on our ability to elucidate the primary photochemical processes of macromolecules. This volume brings together for the first time from the fields of natural as well as synthetic polymers a group of reports dealing with macromolecular photochemistry. Since macromolecular photo chemistry is an expanding new field that crosses the boundaries between classical disciplines, the reader will encounter the employment of diverse scientific approaches and unfamiliar terminology. However, it has become increasingly apparent that researchers in these fields have much to learn from each other. Although this book is not intended to give a detailed survey of the photochemistry of macromolecules. it does represent the editor's perspective on the relationship between theory, kinetic studies and the synthesis aspects of photochemistry. The ideas expressed by the contributors offer a valuable com posite of theoretical and experimental approaches for those who are concerned with problems which have photochemical relevance, and show that investigators from different fields share many concepts and perhaps some common problems. This novel array of present knowledge should provide a basis for organizing and understanding photochemical information from chemistry, physics, biology and medicine. While of particular value to the research worker, the book also should be of interest to the graduate student about to embark on a problem in macromolecular photo chemistry.

Inhalt
A Brief History of the Photochemistry of Macromolecules.- Physical and Environmental Factors Influencing the Photochemistry of DNA.- The Photochemical Addition of Amino Acids and Proteins to Nucleic Acids.- Energy Transfer in Polymeric Ketones in the Solid Phase.- Fluorescence Polarization Kinetic Measurements of Antigen-Antibody Reactions.- The Dye-Sensitized Photooxidation of Biological Macromolecules.- Photolytic Oxidation of Isotactic Polystyrene in Presence of Sulfur Dioxide. Part I Chain Scission as Function of Temperature at Constant Oxygen and Sulfur Dioxide Pressures and Constant Light Intensity.- Photolytic Oxidation of Isotactic Polystyrene in Presence of Sulfur Dioxide. Part II Photolysis Reaction as Function of Light Intensity, Sulfur Dioxide, and Oxygen Pressures.- Fluorescence Properties of Visual Pigments.- Surface-Photopolymerization of Maleimides.- The Effect of Solution Components on Polyacrylamide Gel Formation Via Riboflavin-Sensitized Photopolymerization.- Polyperfluorobutadiene. V. Photopolymerization of Perfluorobutadiene.- Light Scattering Spectroscopy as a Tool for Studying Macromolecular Dynamics and Chemical Kinetics.- Hypochromism in Dimers.- Quantum Mechanically Based Rules for Thermal and Photochemical Reactions.- Photoelimination Reactions of Macromolecules.