The present issue, Volume 3a of "Boron Compounds" 4th Supplement of the Gmelin Hand book, presents the description of boron nitride and a part of other boron compounds containing nitrogen. Volume 3 b (to be published Later) will complete the presentation of the boron-nitrogen compounds and will also cover boron compounds containing fluorine. Due to technical circumstances, Volume 1 (systems with hydrogen) and Volume 2 (systems with oxygen) of this particular supplement will be published subsequently, whereas Volume 4 (boron compounds containing CL, Br, I, S, Se, and Te, as well as a section containing carboranes) has already been published. ALL volumes of the 4th Supplement will be augmented by a formula index. The IUPAC nomenclature is generally adhered to; occasional abbreviations for compounds are explained in the text. A positive sign for the chemical shifts of the NMR signals indicates a 1 13 downfield shift from the references, usually internal (CH ) Si for 6 H and 6 C and external 3 4 11 (C H h0-BF for 6 B, others being specified. 2 5 3 In contrast to more recent publications but remaining consistent with the previous volumes of the Boron Series, the iminoborane structure is written as B=N and not as B=N. In fact, the real electronic structure is more realistically symbolized by B=N, but it seems reasonable to avoid =NR in accordance with the commonly accepted "iminoborane" nomenclature.

The biological activity of mycotoxins ranges from weak and/or sometimes positive effects, such as antibacterial activity (see penicillin derivatives derived from Penicillium strains) to strong mutagenic (e. g. aflatoxins, patulin), carcinogenic (e. g. aflatoxins), teratogenic, neurotoxic (e. g. ochratoxins), nephrotoxic (e. g. fumonisins, citrinin), hepatotoxic, and immunotoxic (e. g. ochratoxins, diketopiperazines) activity. Nowadays, many laboratories around the world are specialized in the detection of mycotoxins in food products and contaminated material found in housing. In this volume, a focus on the most important classes of mycotoxins is provided and their chemistry of the last ten years is discussed. In each Section, the individual biological impact is outlined. Sections are arranged according to mycotoxin classes (e. g. aflatoxins) and/or structural classes (e. g. resorcinyl lactones, diketopiperazines). The biology of mycotoxins is also described.

This book highlights how the properties and structure of materials are affected by dynamic high pressures generated by explosions, projectile impacts, laser compression, electric discharge or ball milling. Starting with the basics of shock-wave physics and an outline of experimental techniques, it then surveys dynamic compressibility and equations of state of various substances, phase transitions and syntheses of novel compounds under shock. It covers various industrial applications including hardening of metals and grinding (fragmentation) of solids, saturation of solids with defects for use as catalysts, production of superhard materials (synthetic diamond, BN (boron nitride)) and nanomaterials, especially nanodiamond, and discusses state-of-the-art techniques such as combining dynamic and static compression to obtain monolithic materials.