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Open Problems in Chemical Topology (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 30/2008)
Author(s) -
Fenlon Edward E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of organic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1099-0690
pISSN - 1434-193X
DOI - 10.1002/ejoc.200890081
Subject(s) - knot (papermaking) , trefoil , natural rubber , trefoil knot , chemistry , polyethylene , topology (electrical circuits) , crossing number (knot theory) , polymer science , combinatorics , knot theory , mathematics , organic chemistry , materials science , art , composite material , visual arts
The cover picture shows a scheme depicting the open problem of the lower size limit for molecular knots. It also shows enantiomorphous conformations of a topological rubber glove – the colored figure eight knot. It is unknown whether the enantiomerization barrier for a topological rubber glove can be measured. A polyethylene trefoil knot, a trefoil rotaxaknot, and a Whitehead link are also shown. The syntheses of these topologically interesting compounds remain open problems. Details are presented in the Microreview by E. E. Fenlon on p. 5023 ff. The photograph of the rubber gloves was taken by Ethan S. Fenlon. Matt Watson is thanked for helping with the graphic of the polyethylene knot.