1.1.1 Atomic Elements!Small
Molecules!Macromolecules!Megamolecules
The seminal “macromolecular hypothesis” proposed in 1922 [3, 4] by
H. Staudinger initiated one of the most significant technological revolutions of
the twentieth century, namely, the polymer (plastics) revolution [5]. Staudinger was
not recognized for this monumental contribution by the Nobel committee until
1953. Coincidentally, in that same year Crick and Watson first reported the characterization and structure of DNA. Perhaps two of the most important chemistry
discoveries in the twentieth century were Staudinger’s “macromolecular hypothesis” and elucidation of the linear polymer, double helix structure evolved by Nature,
namely, DNA [6, 7]. Macromolecular DNA was found to be an elegant covalent
biopolymer that was indeed consistent with and could be accounted for by
Fig. 1 Evolution of hierarchical building blocks, structural information transfer, and scientific
disciplines leading to present material complexity as a function of time lapsed from “the big bang”
324
D.A. Tomalia
Molecules!Macromolecules!Megamolecules
The seminal “macromolecular hypothesis” proposed in 1922 [3, 4] by
H. Staudinger initiated one of the most significant technological revolutions of
the twentieth century, namely, the polymer (plastics) revolution [5]. Staudinger was
not recognized for this monumental contribution by the Nobel committee until
1953. Coincidentally, in that same year Crick and Watson first reported the characterization and structure of DNA. Perhaps two of the most important chemistry
discoveries in the twentieth century were Staudinger’s “macromolecular hypothesis” and elucidation of the linear polymer, double helix structure evolved by Nature,
namely, DNA [6, 7]. Macromolecular DNA was found to be an elegant covalent
biopolymer that was indeed consistent with and could be accounted for by
Fig. 1 Evolution of hierarchical building blocks, structural information transfer, and scientific
disciplines leading to present material complexity as a function of time lapsed from “the big bang”
324
D.A. Tomalia