Models, Mysteries and Magic of Molecules [electronic resource] / edited by Jan C.A. Boeyens, J.F. Ogilvie.

Raman Spectroscopy -- X-Ray Diffraction of Photolytically Induced Molecular Species in Single Crystals -- Molecular Conformation and Crystal Lattice Energy Factors in Conformational Polymorphs -- How Guests Settle and Plan Their Escape Route in a Crystal -- Structural Determination Of Unstable Species -- Is Polymorphism Caused by Molecular Conformational Changes? -- Crystalline Amino Acids -- Unravelling the Chemical Basis of the Bathochromic Shift of the Lobster Carapace Carotenoprotein Crustacyanin -- Tiny Structural Features and their Giant Consequences for Properties of Solids -- Polymorphism in Long-Chain N-Alkylammonium Halides -- Mysterious crystallography -- Clusters in F-Phase Icosahedral Quasicrystals -- Protein-Protein Interactions in the Cyanobacterial Kaiabc Circadian Clock -- Protein-Protein Docking Using Three-Dimensional Reduced Representations and Based on a Genetic Algorithm -- Tropolone as Neutral Compound and Ligand in Palladium Complexes -- Theoretical and Experimental Models of Molecules Illustrated with Quantum-Chemical Calculations of Electronic Structure of H2CN2 Isomers -- Recurrent Complex Modules Instead of Molecules in Non-Molecular Compounds -- Models for Isomeric Bispidine Complexes - Accurate Prediction Versus Thorough Understanding -- The Ligand-Field Paradigm -- The Holistic Molecule.

Molecular behaviour, which is no less than magical, holds the key to the understanding, not only of chemistry, but of all biology and of life itself. It is a mystery why molecular behaviour should remain poorly understood and why the authoritative theories of physics have produced no more than superficial models to elucidate this vital issue. An interdisciplinary international team of experts came together to document and to probe various aspects of these fundamental questions and their startling conclusions confirm the need for a fresh look at the physical sciences with a view to better understand the mysteries and magic of molecules. This book explores the common ground to guide chemists, biologists, crystallographers, spectroscopists and theorists into a deeper recognition of their individual relevance towards painting a holistic picture of scientific endeavour. This effort to stimulate interest in multidisciplinary research is rare, if not unique.