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Progress in physical organic chemistry
480 deal with larger chemical systems (n-electron molecules and transition metaf complexes) and the sucessful semiempiricaf methods of quantum chemistry are developed in some detail. The book is a realistic and satisfying introduction to chemical bonding and the elementary methods of modern quantum chemistry. Many examples and exercises have been inserted directly into the text of each chapter making the book suitable for self-study and a useful aid to the instructor. J. W. T.
Progress itr Pl~~~sicalOrgattic Clrenristrj,, edited by A. Streitwieser Jr. and R. W. Taft, Volume 9, Wifey-rntersc~ence, London, 1972, pp. vii + 354, price Ef 2.55.
Ln a continuing series such as this it is extremely difficult to ensure that each articfe is uniform both in coverage and quality. Over the course of years Professors Streitwieser and Taft have had an enviabfe rate of success but in this vofume they have guided their authors with too fight a rein. Wilcott, Cargiff and Sears present an extensive collection of activation parameters for thermal unimolecufar reactions published up to July 1969. This is seriously a Iabour of love (the tabfe occupies sixty pages out of the sixty-five pages occupied by the entire review) but one must complain at the compfete lack of guidance concerning the accuracy of the data presented. Those interested can presumablydelve back into the original literature but surely this defeats the authors’ object? A “critical and authoritative’* review in every sense of the word is produced, however, by Herndon who justifiabfy depfores the continued use of the extended Hiickel method for saturated organic compounds. The many approximate SCF methods developed since Hoffmann’s work should now oust the older method. An excellent review of electrophilia substitutions at alkanes and in afkylcarbonium ions (Brower and Hogeveen) is marred slightly by selective use of the fiterature since Sorensen’s papers for example are not cited. Two interesting articfes on proton transfer in basic media (J. R. Jones) and mechanistic deductions from solvent isotope effects (Showen) are to be commented on for clarity and conciseness. J. w.
Progress itr Pl~~~sicalOrgattic Clrenristrj,, edited by A. Streitwieser Jr. and R. W. Taft, Volume 9, Wifey-rntersc~ence, London, 1972, pp. vii + 354, price Ef 2.55.
Ln a continuing series such as this it is extremely difficult to ensure that each articfe is uniform both in coverage and quality. Over the course of years Professors Streitwieser and Taft have had an enviabfe rate of success but in this vofume they have guided their authors with too fight a rein. Wilcott, Cargiff and Sears present an extensive collection of activation parameters for thermal unimolecufar reactions published up to July 1969. This is seriously a Iabour of love (the tabfe occupies sixty pages out of the sixty-five pages occupied by the entire review) but one must complain at the compfete lack of guidance concerning the accuracy of the data presented. Those interested can presumablydelve back into the original literature but surely this defeats the authors’ object? A “critical and authoritative’* review in every sense of the word is produced, however, by Herndon who justifiabfy depfores the continued use of the extended Hiickel method for saturated organic compounds. The many approximate SCF methods developed since Hoffmann’s work should now oust the older method. An excellent review of electrophilia substitutions at alkanes and in afkylcarbonium ions (Brower and Hogeveen) is marred slightly by selective use of the fiterature since Sorensen’s papers for example are not cited. Two interesting articfes on proton transfer in basic media (J. R. Jones) and mechanistic deductions from solvent isotope effects (Showen) are to be commented on for clarity and conciseness. J. w.