Abstract
The present work has been conveniently divided into two separate sections, and it is necessary to explain the need for this unusual course of action. As outlined in the Acknowledgement section, this research work was funded by two separate bodies, the U.S. Navy and the Ministry of Defence. The first year's work was initally intended to be solely a single year's research post and the U.S. Navy funding provided was only ever intended to be sufficient for that time. However, after several months into the research programme, the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. was facilitated by the attainment of a generous S.E.R.C./M.o.D. grant. The materials synthesized and characterized in the two volumes are closely related and find use in similar fields of application. In particular the allyl-functionalized derivative of Bisphenol-A, 2,2'-bis(3-allyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)isopropylidene figures particularly strongly in both areas of the research as both a parent compound for a number of Surface acoustic wave (SAW) vapour sensor coatings, and also as the parent compound for several potential matrix resins in the second section of the research. The two funding bodies are quite discrete from one another and during the course of the preparation of this thesis large portions of manuscript were edited by supervisors/consultants from both establishments. In the interests of discretion it was decided at a very early stage to divide the thesis into two, thus enabling each volume to be safely submitted for discussion without fear of causing any offence to either funding body.