First Part: Isoprenic Polyenes.- I. Carotenoids: Introduction.- Nomenclature.- Some Historical Remarks on the Stereoisomerism of Polyenes.- II. Number and Types of cis Carotenoids. Steric Hindrance.- III. Some Properties of cis Carotenoids.- 1. Relative Stabilities.- Sterically Unhindered cis Forms.- Sterically Hindered cis Forms.- Polycis Forms.- 2. Melting Points.- 3. Rotatory Power.- 4. Relative Adsorption Affinities.- IV. Cis-trans Isomerism and UV Spectra.- 1. Some Remarks on the Spectra of all-trans Carotenoids.- 2. Spectral Effect of trans ? cis Isomerization in the Visible Region.- 3. Spectral Effect of trans ? cis Isomerization in the Near Ultraviolet Region: the cis-Peak.- 4. A Simple theoretical Interpretation of Spectral Phenomena, Especially of the cis-Peak Effect.- 5. Spectra at Extremely Low Temperatures.- V. Preparation of cis Carotenoids by Direct Rearrangement of the All-trans Form.- 1. Thermal Methods of cis-trans Isomerization.- a. Spontaneous Rearrangements in Solution at Room Temperature.- b. cis-trans Isomerization in Refluxed Solutions.- c. cis-trans Isomerization by Melting Crystals.- 2. Photochemical cis-trans Isomerization in the Absence of Catalysts.- 3. cis-trans Isomerization by Iodine Catalysis, in Light.- 4. cis-trans Isomerization by Acid Catalysis.- 5. cis-trans Isomerization by Contact with Active Surfaces.- 6. cis-trans Isomerization via Boron Trifluoride Complexes.- 7. Bio-stereoisomerization.- VI. Preparation of cis Carotenoids by Total Synthesis.- VII. Naturally Occurring cis and Polyds Carotenoids.- 1. Mono- and Dices Carotenoids.- 2. Polycis Carotenoids.- Prolycopene.- Further Polycis Lycopenes.- Proneurosporene (Protetrahydrolycopene, Neoneurosporene P).- Pro-?-carotene.- VIII. Some General Remarks on Configurational Assignments.- 1. Stereoisomeric Types.- 2. Number and Location of cis Double Bonds.- 3. Configuration and Infrared Spectrum.- IX. Configurational Assignments in Certain Stereoisomeric Sets.- 1. Stereoisomeric Sets with Two Hydroaromatic Terminal Groups.- ?-Carotene Set.- Cryptoxanthin ? -Cryptoxanthin) Set.- Zeaxanthin Set.- Isozeaxanthin Set.- Echinenone Set.- Canthaxanthin Set.- ? -Carotene Monoepoxide Set.- ? -Carotene Diepoxide Set.- Luteochrome Set.- 3,4-Dehydro-?-carotene and 3,4,3?,4?Bisdehydro-?-carotene Sets.- 16,I6?-Homo-?-carotene Set.- 13,13?-Bis-desmethyl-?-carotene Set.- retro-Dehydrocarotene Set.- ?-Carotene Set.- ?-Cryptoxanthin (Physoxanthin) Set.- Lutein Set.- 3,4-Dehydro-?-carotene Set.- Trollixanthin Set.- Taraxanthin Set.- Capsanthin Set.- Capsorubin Set.- 2. Stereoisomeric Sets with One Hydroaromatic and One Aliphatic Terminal Group.- ?-Carotene Set.- Gazaniaxanthin Set.- ?-Zeacarotene Set.- Celaxanthin Set.- Torularhodin Set.- 3. Stereoisomeric Sets with Two Aliphatic Terminal Groups.- Lycopene Set.- Neurosporene Set.- ?-Carotene Set.- Phytofluene Set.- Phytoene Set.- Rhodoviolascin (Spirilloxanthin) Set.- Fucoxanthin Set.- 4. Stereoisomeric Sets with Two Aromatic Terminal Groups.- 1,18-Diphenyl-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-octadecanonaene Set.- Renieratene and Isorenieratene Sets.- 1,3,7,12,16,18-Hexaphenyl-octadecanonaene Set.- “Naphthyl-carotene” Set.- X. Lower-molecular Weight Carotenoid-carboxylic Acids: Bixin and Crocetin.- Bixin Set.- Crocetin Set.- XI. Cis-trans Isomerism and Provitamin A Effect of Carotenoids.- XII. Vitamins A and Retinenes.- 1. Structural Relationships.- 2. Number and Character of cis Vitamins A and cis Retinenes.- 3. Cis-trans Isomerism and Spectra.- Ultraviolet Spectra.- UV Spectra at Extremely Low Temperatures.- Infrared Spectra.- 4. Preparation of cis Vitamins A and cis Retinenes by Direct Rearrangement.- a. Thermal Methods of Stereoisomerization.- b. Photo-stereoisomerization in the Absence of Catalysis.- c. Stereoisomerization by Iodine Catalysis.- d. Stereoisomerization by Acid Catalysis.- e. Bio-stereoisomerization.- 5. Preparation of cis Isomers by Total Synthesis.- 6. Naturally Occurring cis Vitamins A and Retinenes.- 7. Chromatographic Separation of Stereoisomers.- 8. Some Methods used in Configurational Assignments.- Spectra.- Esterification Rates.- Dehydration.- Maleic Anhydride Adducts.- Opsin Test.- 9. Systemic Bioeffects of cis-trans Isomeric Vitamins A and Retinenes.- Biochemical Relationship to Carotenes.- Bioeffects and Stereoisomerism.- 10. Some Stereochemical Aspects of Visual Processes.- Retinene Isomerase.- Second Part: Unbranched Arylpolyenes. Introductory Remarks.- XIII. I-Monoaryl-polyenes.- I-Phenylbutadiene Set.- I-Phenulundecapentaenal-(11) Set.- XIV. ?,?-Diphenylpolyenes and Related Compounds.- 1. General Remarks.- 2. Stilbene Set.- 3. Diphenylbutadiene Set.- 4. Diphenylhexatriene Set.- 5. Diphenyloctatetraene Set.- 6. Sets Containing Bulky End Groups and a Short Conjugated System.- 2,2?-Diamino-bis-diphenylene-ethylene Set.- 1,2-Bis-[m-nitrophenyl]-1,2-diphenyl-ethylene and 1,2-Bis-[p-nitrophenyl]-1,2-diphenyl-ethylene Sets.- 1-Biphenylene-4-phenylbutadiene, 1-Biphenylene-6-hexatriene, 1,6-Di-biphenylene-hexatriene, and 1,1,6,6-Tetraphenyl-hexatriene Sets.- XV. Cumulenes with. Aromatic Terminal Groups.- Bis-[2-nitrodiphenylene]-butatriene Set.- 1,4-Bis-[m-nitrophenyl]-1,4-diphenyl-butatriene Set.- XVI. Polyene Azines.- Cinnamalazine Set.- Phenylpentadienalazine Set.- XVII. Bibliography.- Index of Authors.- Index of Subjects.