Research Papers from the 16^th International Conference on Polymers and Organic Chemistry (POC-16)

The 16^th International Conference on Polymers and Organic Chemistry (POC-16, http://poc2016.com) took place in the town of Hersinossos on the island of Crete, Greece, from 13^th to 16^th June 2016. This meeting was the latest in the series of biennial POC Conferences aimed at discussing, sharing and disseminating advances at the interface between the fields of polymers and organic chemistry.

The program focused on the following topics:

• Advances in polymer synthesis

• Polymers for separations and environmental protection

• Polymers in medicine, biochemistry and agriculture

• Novel functional polymers

• Polymers for catalysis and energy applications

• Biocatalysis and polymers synthesis

• Biopolymers and their applications

• Functional Metal-Organic Frameworks and Coordination Polymers, synthesis and applications

• Polymers in Cultural Heritage

It attracted nearly 150 participants from 29 countries. There were two Plenary and nine invited Lectures. These were accompanied by 63 oral presentations, in addition to two poster sessions at which 57 communications were presented. The meeting allowed ample time for discussion, both inside and outside the lecture and poster sessions, and greatly benefited from the presence of enthusiastic young researchers.

Pure and Applied Chemistry presents selected peer-reviewed contributions from POC-16 in two consecutive issues. These papers give a flavor of the high quality research presented during the conference and convey the latest developments at the interface of polymers and organic chemistry.

I would like to extend sincere thanks to the Local Organizing Committee for their immense help, the Scientific Advisory Committee, Fabienne Mayers (IUPAC), and Hugh Burrows and Joshua Gannon (Pure and Applied Chemistry) for their valuable help at various stages of the organization and publication of the special issues.