CHEMISTRY 455

Chemistry of Biological and Synthetic Polymers

The course concentrates on: (a) the chemistry of synthetic organic, inorganic and biomedical polymers, with emphasis on polymerization reactions; the characterization, structure and properties of polymers and their role in industrial processes and (b) the chemistry of naturally occuring organic and inorganic polymers, with emphasis on the extraction and purification, characterization, structure and properties of proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, cellulose, chitin, rubber and lignin and their role in biological processes.

CHEM 213/214

The course will be based on the required text. The course will also make use of reprinted materials.

Part a: Synthetic Polymers:

• Introduction. Origins of polymer science and the polymer industry. Nomenclature and definitions.
• Synthesis of Polymers. Condensation, free-radical, ionic, Ziegler-Natta and other classes of polymerization reactions. Co-polymerization reactions;
• Characterization of Polymers. Polymer structure. Rheology of polymer melts and solutions. Determination of molar mass of polymers. Physical tests: stress-strain relationships, deformation mechanisms and electrical properties;
• Reactions of Polymers. Reactions of polyolefins, polyenes, polyamides, pendant aliphatic and aromatic groups. Condensation and chelation reactions. Reactivity of end-groups;
• Inorganic Polymers. Inorganic reaction mechanisms. Condensation organometallic polymers. Coordination poymers. Addition polymers. Portland cement, silicon dioxide, asbestos, graphite and diamond. High-temperature superconductors;

• Extraction and Purification. Chromatography, elctrophoresis, ultracentrifugation and other techniques;
• Proteins. The peptide bond. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Enzymes, hormones and antibodies. Structural proteins: collagen, keratin, fibroin, elastin actin, myosin and chitin;
• Nucleic Acids. Primary and secondary structure of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid. Replication and repair of deoxyribonucleic acid.
• Transcription and replication of ribonucleic acid. Messenger RNA and the genetic code. Mechanisms of protein synthesis. Control of nucleic acid function. Cancer and reverse transcription. Mutations. Antibiotics and nucleic acid function. Recombinant DNA;
• Polysaccharides. Glycosidic and other bonds. Structures.
• Homopolysaccharides; Heteropolysaccharides. Glycosaminoglycans.
• Bacterial polysaccharides. Biosynthesis, chemical synthesis and industrial utilization of polysaccharides.;
• Rubber and Lignin. Rubber and gutta percha. Elasticity and structure. Biosynthesis. Chemical synthesis of polyisoprenes. Biosynthesis of lignin. Properties of lignin;