Organic chemistry

502 to each and to follow this up with a discussion of the value of the techniques - both potential uses and limitations. Examples of various applications are given and each chapter carries a full list of references to guide readers wishing to apply the techniques covered in the text. All the chapters have been contributed byspecialists,frequentlyscientistswho have built up theirwealth of knowledgein thecourse of pioneeringwork in theirflelds. In Part IIIB topics include infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, visible and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, the determination of fluorescence, atomic absorption spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy of transient species and spectroscopy of monolayer assemblies. Each chapter is sectionalised clearly into discussions of theory, instrumentation, apparatus and applications. As an example, the chapter dealing with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy is sub-headed: Introduction; Theory; The Scope of the Method; Equipment; Experimental Techniques; Applications and References. All the chapters follow a similar pattern. The ground covered in Part IIID is equally wide and topics include X-ray crystal structure analysis; electron diffraction by gases; neutron scattering; Mossbauer spectroscopy; photoelectron spectroscopy; molecular beams in chemistry; neutron activation analysis; positron annihilation; measurement of radioactivity and gamma-ray spectroscopy_ As in Part IIIB, each chapter is divided into sections on aspects of the subject, such as theory, experimental techniques, instrumentation and application. A list of references is given at the end of the chapters as a guide to further reading. Both these parts of P&.Gc~Z Methods of Chemistry are exhaustive treatments of their subject matter. The coverage over the whole range is thorough and detaiIed, making these voiumes of inestimable value to chemists interested in the uses of spectroscopic methods. W. J. O.-T.

Organic

by B. J. STOKES, price fT2.50.

Chemistry,

pp. x+517,

Edward Arnold,

London,

1972, 3rd edition,

This four-part book aims to provide an up-to-date text in organic chemistry for students taking “A” and “s” level examinations and for students in the first year of a University course. The subject matter for the school examinations is well presented in the first three parts of the book. Part One deals with simple atomic theory and introduces some methods of analysis available to the organic chemist. Part Two tackles aliphatic chemistry: apart from the systematic review of the preparation and properties of functionalized alkanes, excellent chapters are presented featuring “Important Synthetic Reagents” and “Stereochemistry”.

503 However the final chapter in this Part, deaiing with bioorganic chemistry (e.g. proteins, the citric acid cycle), is made confusing by its brevity. Part Three describes the chemistry of aromatic compounds in competent fashion. The finai Part introduces molecuIar orbitai theory (with particular reference to aromatic chemistry) and catagorizes reaction mechanisms. The book is sound reading for the “A” and “S” level candidate with numerous asides adding interest to the necessary catalogue of reactions. The sections on pollution and the energy crisis exemplify the author’s current awareness. Practical exercises are described to illustrate many important reactions and the safety factors involved are continually stressed. However, the book is less satisfactory as a University text. For exampIe, the sections on reaction mechanisms, molecular orbital theory and spectroscopic methods are far too brief to be of value in a modern first-year University course. S. R.

Organomefallic E. W. ABEL price f;9.00.

AND

Chemistry, Vol. 1 (Specialisi Periodical Report), senior reporters, F. G. A. STONE, ChemicaI Society, London,

1973, pp. xvi+521,

During the past five years the Chemical Society has produced a new series of pubIications, namely, The Specialist Periodical Reports, which provide a systematic and comprehensive review coverage, usually on an annual basis, of the progress in the major areas of chemical research_ The volume under review is the first of the series that will be published on Organometallic Chemistry. In such a wide-reaching area as this, it cannot be expected that every aspect of the subject can be covered, there being at least three other specialist periodical reports which cover certain aspects of this field. Twenty years ago the major emphasis in organometallic chemistry was in main group chemistry. The coverage in this volume reflects the ever increasing importance of transition metal organometallics, approximately 60 oA of the coverage being devoted to this area. The book contains seventeen chapters, the first five of which relate to main group elements, the compounds being reviewed by element groups. The bulk of the remaining tweIve chapters is devoted to transition metal compounds which are surveyed according to ligand type. The only area which does not appear to be surveyed in this volume is the organometallic chemistry of arsenic, antimony and bismuth. The only comparable source of information is the annual survey of the JournaC of Organometallic Chemistry and it is apparent that the coverage afforded within this Journal and the report under review are comparable. Organometahic chemists wiI1 obviously wish to consuIt the Journal in a library and to purchase the reports for their own