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INTRODUCTION<br> Initial Remarks<br> Hydrocarbons with Unusual Spatial Structure: The Need to Finance Basic Research<br> Computations on Strained Hydrocarbons <br> Gallery of Molecules That Could Have Been Included in this Book<br> DISTORTED SATURATED HYDROCARBONS<br> Molecules with Inverted Carbon Atoms<br> Molecules with Planar and Pyramidal Carbon Atoms<br> A Theoretical Approach to Study and Design of Prismane Systems<br> (CH)2n Cage Structures, 'in'-'out' Isomerism in Perhydrogenated Fullerenes and Planar Cyclohexane Rings<br> Ultralong C-C bonds<br> Ultrashort C-C bonds<br> DISTORTED ALKENES<br> Nonplanar Alkenes <br> Small Ring and Cage Structures Involving Nonplanar C=C Bonds<br> Strained Cyclic Allenes and Cumulenes<br> STRAINED AROMATIC MOLECULES<br> Nonstandard Benzenes<br> Distorted Cyclophanes<br> Helicenes<br> Cycloproparenes<br> FULLERENES<br> Introduction<br> Chemistry Influenced by the Nontypical Structure: Modification of [60]Fullerene<br> Physicochemical Properties and the Unusual Structure of Fullerenes<br> Fullerene Aggregates<br> Endohedral Fullerenes with Neutral Atoms and Molecules<br> Hydrogenated Fullerenes<br> Applications of Fullerenes<br> CARBON NANOTUBES<br> The Structure and Properties of Carbon Nanotubes<br> The Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes<br> Applications of Carbon Nanotubes<br> ANGLE-STRAINED CYCLOALKYNES<br> Introduction<br> Cyclopropyne and Cyclobutyne: Speculations and Calculations on Non-Isolable Cycloalkynes<br> Cyclopentyne, Cyclohexyne, Cycloheptyne: From Reactive Intermediates to Isolable Compounds<br> The Isolable Angle-Strained Cycloalkynes: Cyclooctyne, Cyclononyne, and Beyond<br> Cyclic Polyacetylenes<br> Spectroscopic Properties of Angle-Strained Cycloalkynes<br> MOLECULES WITH LABILE BONDS: SELECTED ANNULENES AND BRIDGED HOMOTROPILIDENES<br> Introduction<br> Annulenes<br> Cyclooctatetraene<br> Bond Shifting, Ring Inversion and Antiaromaticity<br> Valence Isomerization<br> Ions Derived from COT<br> The Higher Annulenes<br> Bridged Homotrophilidenes<br> Recent Developments<br> MOLECULES WITH NONSTANDARD TOPOLOGICAL PROPERTIES: CENTROHEXAINDANE, KURATOWSKI'S CYCLOPHANE AND OTHER NONPLANAR MOLECULES<br> Introduction<br> Topologically Nonplanar Graphs and Molecular Motifs <br> Centrohexaindane<br> K5 Versus K3,3 Molecules<br> Kuratowski?s Cyclophane<br> SHORT-LIVED SPECIES STABILIZED IN 'MOLECULAR' OR 'SUPRAMOLECULAR FLASKS'<br> CONCLUDING REMARKS<br>

?It provides a nice overview of the subject and some in-depth discussions of selected topics in the field. Everyone from students to seasoned experts will find interesting new molecules to ponder in this book, including some that have yet to be synthesized.? ( <i>Angewandte Chemistry</i>, September 2009) <p>?This comprehensive review of current literature is intended for PhD students, readers interested in learning about the field, and specialists. The book is clearly illustrated and well-written.? ( <i>Book News</i>, September 2009)</p> <p>?I would emphasize that any organic chemist who picks up this volume and leafs through it will have difficulty putting it down again. Almost every section stimulates fresh thoughts and research ideas.? (<i>The Journal of the American Chemical Society</i>, July 2009)</p>

Helena Dodziuk worked for many years at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, at present at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, both of Polish Academy of Sciences. She is author or coauthor of over 100 publications, among them four books (one in Polish), 13 reviews and some popular articles. In addition to strained hydrocarbons with unusual spatial structure, she is interested in conformational analysis of hydrocarbons, classification of chiral molecules and isomers, NMR spectra and model calculations of cyclodextrin complexes, endohedral fullerene complexes and carbon nanotubes.

Presenting comprehensive and up-to-date state of the domain of highly strained hydrocarbons with unusual spatial structure, an experienced editor and top authors cover the whole range of these important molecules from [1.1.1]propellane to fullerenes and nanotubes. The necessity of studies in this area encompassing sometimes exotic molecules is discussed in detail showing their importance for basic science and practical applications. The fact that the latter cannot mostly be foreseen is amply documented. <br> Even not long ago, studying such molecules was an elitist activity, few synthetic chemists succeeded in their syntheses. Today, the field has broadened in view of emerging practical application and fullerenes and nanotubes are one of the most vividly developing domains. <br> Chapters include both experimental and theoretical studies. The former cover syntheses and unusual physicochemical properties related to the strain and untypical geometry of the molecules under scrutiny. The latter show importance of model calculations which help precise basic ideas of chemistry, such as the chemical bond, on the one hand, and are used to propose novel plausible synthetic targets, on the other. <br> The monograph aims not only at PhD students and newcomers in the field who seek for an introduction to this area but also at the specialists who want to obtain a broader perspective of this domain and make use of a comprehensive review of literature.

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