The Royal Society of Chemistry Chemical Society Reviews Editorial Board Professor H. W. Kroto FRS (Chairman) (University of Sussex) Professor M. J. Blandamer (University of Leicester) Dr. A. R. Butler (University of St. Andrews) Professor E. C. (3,onstable (University of Basel, Switzerland) Professor T. C. Gallagher (University of Bristol) Professor D. M. P. Mingos FRS (Imperial College Land on) Consulting Editors Dr. G. G. Balint-Kurti (University of Bristol) Dr. J. M. Brown (University of Oxford) Dr. J. Burgess (University of Leicester) Dr. N. Cape (Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Lothian) Professor B. T. Golding (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) Professor M. Green (University of Bath) Professor A. Hamnett (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) Dr.T. M. Herrington (University of Reading) Professor R. Hillman (University of Leicester) Professor R. Keese (University of Bern, Switzerland) Dr. T. H. Lilley (University of Sheffield) Dr. H. Maskill (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) Professor A. de Meijere (University of Gottingen, Germany) Professor J. N. Miller (Loughborough University of Tech n oIog y ) Professor S. M. Roberts (University of Liverpool) Professor B. H. Robinson (University of East Anglia) Professor M. R. Smyth (Dublin City University, Republic of Ireland) Professor A. J. Stace (University of Sussex) Chemical Society Reviews aims to foster current progress in the chemical sciences and related disciplines. The journal has the broad appeal necessary to enable scientists to benefit from recent advances made in research outside their immediate interests.In particular, students embarking on a research career should find Chemical Society Reviews a particularly Chemical Society Reviews (ISSN 0306-0012) is published bimonthly by The Royal Society of Chemistry, Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, UK CB4 4WF. All orders accompanied by payment should be sent directly to The Royal Society of Chemistry, Turpin Distribution Services Ltd., Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, Herts., UK SG6 1HN. N.6. Turpin Distribution Services Ltd., distributors, is wholly owned by The Royal Society of Chemistry. 1996 annual subscription rate: EEA f120.00; Rest of World f123.00; USA $225.00.Customers in Canada will be charged the Rest of World price plus a surcharge to cover GST. Customers should make payments by cheque in sterling payable on a UK clearing bank or in US dollars payable on a US clearing bank. Second-class postage is paid at Jamaica, NY 1141-9998. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by Publications Editorial Staff Managing Editor Martin Sugden Editorial Production Peter Whittington Editorial Secretary Debbie Halls Editorial Office The Royal Society of Chemistry Thomas Graham House Science Park Milton Road Cambridge UK CB4 4WF Telephone +44 (0)1223 420066 Facsimile +44 (0)1223 420247 Electronic Mail (Internet) rscl@rsc.org or sugdenml@rsc.org http://c hemist ry. rsc.org/rsc/ Advertisement sales Telephone +44 (0)171 287 3091 Facsimile +44 (0) 171 494 1134 Typeset by Servis Filmsetting Ltd.Printed in Great Britain by Black Bear Press Ltd. stimulating and instructive springboard to further reading. The Editorial Board encourages an international and interdisciplinary approach to science, which is reflected in the succinct, authoritative articles commissioned. The Board members welcome comments and suggestions; these should be directed to the Managing Editor Expediting Services Inc., 200 Meacham Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003, and at additional mailing offices. US Postmaster: send address changes to Chemical Society Reviews, c/o Publications Expediting Services Inc., 200 Meacham Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003. All despatches outside the UK by Bulk airmail within Europe and Accelerated Surface Post outside Europe. PRINTED IN THE UK. 0 The Royal Society of Chemistry, 1996. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be repro- duced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or other- wise, without the prior permission of the publishers.