Chemistry and Technology of Carbodiimides

Carbodiimides are molecules containing the functional group N=C=N. They play an important role as condensation agents in the synthesis of polypeptides, polynucleotides, polysaccharides and numerous other chemical transformations. Carbodiimides also act as "zero-length" crosslinkers for proteins. In industry, applications include the stabilization of the major global diisocyanate MDI, polyester based polymers and herbicides. Metal substituted carbodiimides are used as precursors for ceramic materials, while sulfonylcarbodiimides are used as precursors for antidiabetic drugs and herbicides. Chemistry and Technology of Carbodiimides highlights the synthesis, reactions and industrial importance of this important class of chemicals, including: * alkyl and arylcarbodiimides * unsaturated carbodiimides * halogenated carbodiimides * acyl-, thioacyl- and imidoylcarbodiimides * silicon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and metal substituted carbodiimides * cyclic carbodiimides * polymeric carbodiimides * applications in organic synthesis * biological applications, including antibiotic synthesis, protein and DNA synthesis, modifications of proteins, crosslinking of proteins, and pharmaceutical, herbicide and pesticide applications * polymer and industrial applications, including polymer synthesis and modification, carbodiimides as stabilizers, carbodiimides in dye applications, and other applications Chemistry and Technology of Carbodiimides is an essential guide for researchers and advanced students in academia and research working in synthetic organic and bioorganic chemistry, drug discovery and materials.