DEFORE polyester,there was silk.BeforeKevlar,there was collagen. Before plastic water bottles,there were natural polymers.Polymers are not a recent phenomenon,as Nature has been putting atoms together for eons and humans have taken advantage of the unique properties of polymers even before understanding their chemical composition and syntheses. Polymeric fibers and resins from plants and animals have been an integral part of human life since the first civilization. In this text, students are challenged to start seeing polymers within the context of organisms and to learn how macromolecules are not just convenient new materials but indispensible for life.
This book connects modern synthetic polymer chemistry to its roots by exploring the chemistry of natural polymers and self-assembled macromolecular structures. Throughout the chapters,students are given the fundamentals of organic chemistry including intermolecular forces, functional groups and key reactions,and the basic concepts of polymer chemistry. They are presented with reallife examples and challenging exercises, which require them to apply the concepts they have learned.
The book is designed and authored by Professor Judit E. Puskas. The first draft was prepared with the help of graduate students enrolled in the world-renowned polymer science program at The University of Akron, in consultation with a local chemistry high-school teacher. The second draft was developed in the framework of a vertically integrated special course, with a high-school student,a high-school teacher,and an undergraduate and graduate student. The final draft was integrated by the author and her graduate students, with editorial help from Emily Q. RosenthalKim.
Introductionto Polymer Chemistry: A Biobased Approach is an educational resource for Advanced Placement secondary students and university undergraduates and graduate students. The book fills a void in the literature by linking natural polymer systems to modern synthetic systems, which are typically thought of as completely artificial and not natural. The book strives to introduce, educate and inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers to explore polymer science more deeply. We hope that understanding polymer science from the view- point of natural polymerization processes will encourage a new generation to create environmentally friendly and bioinspired synthetic materials. It is hoped the information contained within this unique introduction to polymer chemistry will move students to study polymer science at a more advanced level and look to nature to find novel polymer technologies through natural processes, in combination with synthetic chemistry. To assist students and instructors this volume offers numerous suggested exercises, experiments and discussion questions at the end of each chapter.In addition, four further instructional resources are provided. The first is a syllabus(p.xi)for organizing a one-semester course based on the present book's chapters. Next is an answer key(p.299), which repeats the questions found at the end of each chapter and provides answers. Thirdly, AppendixA(p.185)comprises an article listing polymer science terms and their definitions as approved and updated by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)'s Polymer Division.! A number of these IUPACterms are also listed in the book's index,including such key concepts as chain polymerization.Finally, Appendix B contains detailed instructions and forms for carrying out and recording polymerase chain(PCR) analyses as described in theexperiment section ofChapter2.2
In the author's opinion, many polymer chemistry books targeted at n introductory-level audience fail to grasp the attention of the students. The books currently used in these classes place too much emphasis on commodity plastics and commercial products. Many students early in their academic careers are still deciding on their major. To them it needs to be made clear that polymer science is more than just rubber and plastic—that chemistry, including polymer chemistry, can be environmentally friendly. After all, the word "chemistry"itself stems from the Arabic term for earth.

Foreword ix

Preface xi

Contributors xiii

Course Sructure: Sylabus and Schedule xv

1. Introduction 1

1.1.Polymers 1

1.2. The History of Polymer Science 2

1.3. Fundamental Concepts in Polymer Science 5

1.4. Questions 32

1.5. Bibliography 33

2. Polynucleic Acids (Polynucleotides) 35

2.1Types of Polynucleotides 35

2.2.Example: DNA 37

2.3. Case Study: UV-Damage 47

2.4. Practice: RNA 51

2.5. Experiments 54

2.6. Questions 57

2.7. Bibliography 58

3.Proteins 59

3.1Types of Proteins 59

3.2. Example: Insulin 66

3.3. Case Study: Sickle Cell Anemia 82

3.4. Practice: Hemoglobin 84

3.5. Experiments 88

3.6. Questions 90

3.7.Bibliography 92

4.Terpenoids 93

4.1. Types of Terpenoids 94

4.2. Example: Cholesterol 96

4.3. Case Study: Estrogen-Testosteron Equilibrium 105

4.4. Practice: Natural Rubber Biosynthesis 106

4.5. Experiments 113

4.6. Questions 113

4.7.Bibliography 114

5.Carbohydrates 117

5.1. Types of Carbohydrates 118

5.2. Example: Cellulose 127

5.3. Case Study: Shell Fish 132

5.4. Practice: Starch 134

5.5. Experiments 138

5.6. Questions 142

5.7. Bibliography 142

6.Lignin 145

6.1. Types of Lignins 145

6.2. Example: Softwood 148

6.3. Case Study: Biofuel from Switchgrass 156

6.4. Practice: Hardwood 157

6.5. Experiments 158

6.6. Questions 159

6.7.Bibliography 159

7.Self-ASSembly 161

7.1. Types of Self-assembled Structures 162

7.2. Example: Cell Membrane 167

7.3. Case Study: Targeted Drug Delivery via Endocytosis 174

7.4. Practice: Bone Tissue 175

7.5. Experiments 179

7.6. Questions 181

7.7. Bibliography 182

Appendix A—Glossary of Terms Related to Kinetics,Thermodynamics and Mechanics of Polymerization 185

Appendix B—Teacher Packet 217

Questions and Answers 299

Index 319

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