Contents List of Contributors Preface......... xxiv Acknowledgements Editors'Notes xxvi Abbreviations xxviii Chapter 1:Special Molecules,Special Properties George Britton,Synnove Liaaen-Jensen and Hanspeter Pfander A Introduction B.Structure,Properties and Function 2 1.Three-dimensional shape 2 2.The conjugated double-bond system 3.Molecular interactions C.Functions of Carotenoids D.Metabolites and Breakdown Products 6 E.Conclusions 6 Chapter 2:Structure and Chirality Synnove Liaaen-Jensen A.Introduction > B.Three-dimensional Carotenoid Structures 1 C.Methods for Structure Determination.... 9 References 14 Chapter 3:E/Z Isomers and Isomerization Synnove Liaaen-Jensen and Bjart Frode Lutnces A.Introduction 15 B.E/Z Isomers 1 1.Geometrical isomerism:Definition and nomenclature 15 2.Structural examples of common Z isomers 19v Contents List of Contributors ……………………………………………………..…… xviii Preface …………………………………………………………...…………… xxiv Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………... xxv Editors’ Notes ………………………………………………………………… xxvi Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………… xxviii Chapter 1: Special Molecules, Special Properties George Britton, Synnøve Liaaen-Jensen and Hanspeter Pfander A. Introduction ………………………………………………………………… 1 B. Structure, Properties and Function ……………………………………….. 2 1. Three-dimensional shape ……………………………………………….. 2 2. The conjugated double-bond system ……………………………………. 3 3. Molecular interactions ………………………………….……………….. 4 C. Functions of Carotenoids …………………………………………………... 5 D. Metabolites and Breakdown Products ……………………………………. 6 E. Conclusions …………………………………………………………………. 6 Chapter 2: Structure and Chirality Synnøve Liaaen-Jensen A. Introduction ………………………………………………………………… 7 B. Three-dimensional Carotenoid Structures ……………………………….. 7 C. Methods for Structure Determination ……………………………………. 9 References ……………………………………………………………………… 14 Chapter 3: E/Z Isomers and Isomerization Synnøve Liaaen-Jensen and Bjart Frode Lutnæs A. Introduction ………………………………………………………………… 15 B. E/Z Isomers …………………………………………………………………. 15 1. Geometrical isomerism: Definition and nomenclature …………………. 15 2. Structural examples of common Z isomers ……………………………... 19