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Mass spectrometry and ion-molecule reactions
BOOK REVIEWS
331
Mass Spectrometry and Ion-Molecule Reactions, by P. F. KNEWSTUBB, Cambridge University Press, London, 1969, pp. vii+ 136, price ~2.00. This book is one of a series, entitled “Cambridge Chemistry Texts”, which are written for final year undergraduates and first year postgraduates. The emphasis of the series has been pIaced on a discussion of the principles involved in each subject rather than an in-depth analysis. In this excellent .volume the author has certainly achieved his objective and possibly even exceeded it; the two topics of the title being discussed at Gonsiderable length. The book begins with an introduction to ion-neutral moiecule reactions and a qualitative account of some of the theories proposed to account for them. This is followed by a good general description of ion sources for analytical purposes or ion-molecule reactions, together with a review of the types of experiments used to study the latter. The rest of the book is devoted to a brief description of the different types of mass spectrometers, their various
methods
of operation
as analytical
instruments
and a consideration
of the
progress being made in the prediction and interpretation of “cracking patterns”. Taken as a whole this is an admirable book which may be recommended to students wishing to achieve an overall view of these two closely linked and rapidly expanding fields. J. H. L.
Organic Reaction Mechanisms 1967, by B. CAPON, M. J_ PERKINS AND C. W. REES; and Organjc Reaction Mechanisms 1969, edited by B. CAPON AND C. W. REES, Wiley-Interscience, London-New York-Sydney-Toronto, 1968, pp.ix + 5 13, price L6.50 and 1970, pp. xii + 710, price Ll 1.OO. The Authors and Editors aim for comprehensive coverage of the literature in the year, and interpret the series title liberally; over 3000 references (1$67), and 4000 (1969), are listed., dealing with organic reactions, and excluding only purely structural and synthetic work. The 1969 volume is the work of eleven authors: R. W. Alder, R. Baker, J. M. Brown, A. R. Butler, B. Capon, R. S. Davidson, T. L. Gilchrist, M. J. P. Harger, M. J. Perkins, C. W. Rees and R. C. Storr. The style throughout is terse, with not much in the way of critical discussion. Overlap between chapters is minimal. In each of the two volumes sent for review the chapter headings (fourteen in all) are virtually the same. Topics in succeeding volumes are therefore easy to follow up, and this is made still easier by the excellent cumulative subject index (57 pp., 1969). This series has established itself in its field as a worthy successor to Annual Reports. It might be expected that volumes such as these, where speed of production J. Mol. Structure,10 (1971) 306-332
331
Mass Spectrometry and Ion-Molecule Reactions, by P. F. KNEWSTUBB, Cambridge University Press, London, 1969, pp. vii+ 136, price ~2.00. This book is one of a series, entitled “Cambridge Chemistry Texts”, which are written for final year undergraduates and first year postgraduates. The emphasis of the series has been pIaced on a discussion of the principles involved in each subject rather than an in-depth analysis. In this excellent .volume the author has certainly achieved his objective and possibly even exceeded it; the two topics of the title being discussed at Gonsiderable length. The book begins with an introduction to ion-neutral moiecule reactions and a qualitative account of some of the theories proposed to account for them. This is followed by a good general description of ion sources for analytical purposes or ion-molecule reactions, together with a review of the types of experiments used to study the latter. The rest of the book is devoted to a brief description of the different types of mass spectrometers, their various
methods
of operation
as analytical
instruments
and a consideration
of the
progress being made in the prediction and interpretation of “cracking patterns”. Taken as a whole this is an admirable book which may be recommended to students wishing to achieve an overall view of these two closely linked and rapidly expanding fields. J. H. L.
Organic Reaction Mechanisms 1967, by B. CAPON, M. J_ PERKINS AND C. W. REES; and Organjc Reaction Mechanisms 1969, edited by B. CAPON AND C. W. REES, Wiley-Interscience, London-New York-Sydney-Toronto, 1968, pp.ix + 5 13, price L6.50 and 1970, pp. xii + 710, price Ll 1.OO. The Authors and Editors aim for comprehensive coverage of the literature in the year, and interpret the series title liberally; over 3000 references (1$67), and 4000 (1969), are listed., dealing with organic reactions, and excluding only purely structural and synthetic work. The 1969 volume is the work of eleven authors: R. W. Alder, R. Baker, J. M. Brown, A. R. Butler, B. Capon, R. S. Davidson, T. L. Gilchrist, M. J. P. Harger, M. J. Perkins, C. W. Rees and R. C. Storr. The style throughout is terse, with not much in the way of critical discussion. Overlap between chapters is minimal. In each of the two volumes sent for review the chapter headings (fourteen in all) are virtually the same. Topics in succeeding volumes are therefore easy to follow up, and this is made still easier by the excellent cumulative subject index (57 pp., 1969). This series has established itself in its field as a worthy successor to Annual Reports. It might be expected that volumes such as these, where speed of production J. Mol. Structure,10 (1971) 306-332