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Molecular shapes. theoretical models of inorganic stereochemistry
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programmes. Since then progress has been so fast that nowadays final year undergraduate students are required to use the “ab initio” approach in the practical sessions which form an essential part of theoretical chemistry courses. This book, written as it is for those with no experience of “ab initio”calculations, is ideal for teaching purposes. Great emphasis is laid on important topics such as the basis set and correlation energy. A number of important topics including molecular geometries, force constants, barrier heights, chemical reactivities, intermolecular interactions and solvation, are then described. The value of this most useful book is enhanced by the inclusion of 709 well-chosen up-to-date references (latest 1979). This modestly priced volume should be made available to all university staff and students. W. J. O.-T. Advances in Chemical Physics, Vol. 44, edited by I. Prigogine and S. A. Rice, Wiley, New York, 1980, pp. ix + 671, price s35.00. This well-known series has now reached volume 44 and the standard is as high as ever. The contents encompass five themes of which the first deals with the static and dynamic structure of molecules (L. Engelbrecht and J. Hinze). The authors consider the electronic, vibrational and rotational energies of isolated molecules and base their treatment on theory developed for interpreting molecular spectra. An outline of the theory defining molecular properties as determined experimentally is given as well as the explicit formulae needed for the “ab initio” computation of these proper ties. The next chapter (S. A. Adelman) treats the many-body problems encountered in condensed-phase chemistry. A most valuable and rounded account of “Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Rototranslational Correlation Functions” is provided by Myron Evans, G. Evans and R. Davies. This article describes the attempts being made to throw light on the molecular dynamical problem of systems possessing 2: 10” interacting molecules. The volume concludes with accounts of solvated electrons (A. M. Brodsky and A. V. Tsarevsky) and “Natural Chiroptical Spectroscopy” (A. E. Hansen and T. D. Bouman). W. J. O.-T. Molecular Shapes. Theoretical Models of Inorganic Stereochemistry, by Jeremy K. Burdett, J. Wiley, New York, 1980, pp. xi + 287, price 315.75. Simple molecular orbital theory used in conjunction with the classical VSEPR model of Sidgwick and Powell has provided a great deal of detailed
343
information on the structure and shape of molecules. This book concentrates on the inorganic systems and emphasizes the great utility of the angular overlap model (AOM) which is used for the first time in a text of this type to provide an insight into structural, photochemical and thermodynamic properties. The basic concepts used are derived by the use of group and perturbation theory. The coverage is complete main group stereochemism being described in five chapters whilst a further six are devoted to transition metal systems. A criticalreadingconvinces one thattheauthorhasexceededhis aim of providing an account of various simple theoretical models of inorganic stereo-
chemistry. He should have claimed at least to provide a clear and valuable account. The book abounds in excellent, well-known examples which illustrate the text in a luminous fashion. In a competitive field this book makes a real contribution and should be an essential purchase for the teaching and learning of inorganic chemistry. W. J. O.-T.
X-Ray Analysis and the Structure of Organic Molecules, by J. D. Dun&, Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, 1979, pp. 514, price $33.00. Professor Dunitz’s book has developed out of his George Fisher Baker Lectures which were delivered at Cornell University in 1976. It is inevitable that this text will be compared with J. M. Robertson’s “Organic Crystals and Molecules” which grew out of his tenure of the Baker Lectureship at Cornell. Indeed, Professor Dunitz states that his first thought was to try to update Robertson’s classic account of X-ray analysis. Fortunately he did not pursue this aim. The books of Robertson, Bunn, Lipson and Cochran were both for the interest&d general reader and the apprentice crystallographer anxious to learn the trade, and the days when this can be accomplished in one book are over. Although the same even, elegant style sustains the whole book and the chapter heading quotations from Lewis Carroll seem to indicate a lingering desire to appeal to all conditions of readership, nothing can disguise the fact that this work is two books within one cover. The first part will almost certainly find its greatest admirers amongst professional crystallographers. The fundamentals and present state of the art are here described clearly, succinctly and with an obvious delight. Part I may prove heavy going for the non-crystallographers but Part II will open their eyes to new and exciting uses for the results of crystal structure analysis. Perhaps the most exciting section in Part II is the account of the “Struttural Correlation Principle” where the structures of some molecular fragment found in a number of different environmenti are examined to try to correlate the changes which occur in one structural parameter with changes that occur
programmes. Since then progress has been so fast that nowadays final year undergraduate students are required to use the “ab initio” approach in the practical sessions which form an essential part of theoretical chemistry courses. This book, written as it is for those with no experience of “ab initio”calculations, is ideal for teaching purposes. Great emphasis is laid on important topics such as the basis set and correlation energy. A number of important topics including molecular geometries, force constants, barrier heights, chemical reactivities, intermolecular interactions and solvation, are then described. The value of this most useful book is enhanced by the inclusion of 709 well-chosen up-to-date references (latest 1979). This modestly priced volume should be made available to all university staff and students. W. J. O.-T. Advances in Chemical Physics, Vol. 44, edited by I. Prigogine and S. A. Rice, Wiley, New York, 1980, pp. ix + 671, price s35.00. This well-known series has now reached volume 44 and the standard is as high as ever. The contents encompass five themes of which the first deals with the static and dynamic structure of molecules (L. Engelbrecht and J. Hinze). The authors consider the electronic, vibrational and rotational energies of isolated molecules and base their treatment on theory developed for interpreting molecular spectra. An outline of the theory defining molecular properties as determined experimentally is given as well as the explicit formulae needed for the “ab initio” computation of these proper ties. The next chapter (S. A. Adelman) treats the many-body problems encountered in condensed-phase chemistry. A most valuable and rounded account of “Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Rototranslational Correlation Functions” is provided by Myron Evans, G. Evans and R. Davies. This article describes the attempts being made to throw light on the molecular dynamical problem of systems possessing 2: 10” interacting molecules. The volume concludes with accounts of solvated electrons (A. M. Brodsky and A. V. Tsarevsky) and “Natural Chiroptical Spectroscopy” (A. E. Hansen and T. D. Bouman). W. J. O.-T. Molecular Shapes. Theoretical Models of Inorganic Stereochemistry, by Jeremy K. Burdett, J. Wiley, New York, 1980, pp. xi + 287, price 315.75. Simple molecular orbital theory used in conjunction with the classical VSEPR model of Sidgwick and Powell has provided a great deal of detailed
343
information on the structure and shape of molecules. This book concentrates on the inorganic systems and emphasizes the great utility of the angular overlap model (AOM) which is used for the first time in a text of this type to provide an insight into structural, photochemical and thermodynamic properties. The basic concepts used are derived by the use of group and perturbation theory. The coverage is complete main group stereochemism being described in five chapters whilst a further six are devoted to transition metal systems. A criticalreadingconvinces one thattheauthorhasexceededhis aim of providing an account of various simple theoretical models of inorganic stereo-
chemistry. He should have claimed at least to provide a clear and valuable account. The book abounds in excellent, well-known examples which illustrate the text in a luminous fashion. In a competitive field this book makes a real contribution and should be an essential purchase for the teaching and learning of inorganic chemistry. W. J. O.-T.
X-Ray Analysis and the Structure of Organic Molecules, by J. D. Dun&, Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, 1979, pp. 514, price $33.00. Professor Dunitz’s book has developed out of his George Fisher Baker Lectures which were delivered at Cornell University in 1976. It is inevitable that this text will be compared with J. M. Robertson’s “Organic Crystals and Molecules” which grew out of his tenure of the Baker Lectureship at Cornell. Indeed, Professor Dunitz states that his first thought was to try to update Robertson’s classic account of X-ray analysis. Fortunately he did not pursue this aim. The books of Robertson, Bunn, Lipson and Cochran were both for the interest&d general reader and the apprentice crystallographer anxious to learn the trade, and the days when this can be accomplished in one book are over. Although the same even, elegant style sustains the whole book and the chapter heading quotations from Lewis Carroll seem to indicate a lingering desire to appeal to all conditions of readership, nothing can disguise the fact that this work is two books within one cover. The first part will almost certainly find its greatest admirers amongst professional crystallographers. The fundamentals and present state of the art are here described clearly, succinctly and with an obvious delight. Part I may prove heavy going for the non-crystallographers but Part II will open their eyes to new and exciting uses for the results of crystal structure analysis. Perhaps the most exciting section in Part II is the account of the “Struttural Correlation Principle” where the structures of some molecular fragment found in a number of different environmenti are examined to try to correlate the changes which occur in one structural parameter with changes that occur