“Vibrational Spectra of Organometallic Compounds”

C50 Journal of Ogenomet&c Cietiistry. 134 (1977) C5G-C52 0 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The NetheW&

Book

review

“Vibrati:,nal Spectra of Organometallic Compounds”. E. Maslows&,Jf_, John Wiley and Sons, New York/London/Sydney/Toronto, 1977, xii + 528 pages, S 31.70, L 18.75.

This book was written dealing

with

the

application

study of structure sentation

to compile

literature

and Raman spectroscopy

infrared

to the

and bonding of organometall ic compounds. Sty1 e of pre-

is very similar

because it

to that of the Specialist of London. This report

of the Chemical Society however,

of

a review of the published

is not restricted

Periodical

is different

to a limited

period

Reports

than these, but an attempt

has been made to be comprehensive.

It can be said that the author,

doubtedly

diligence,

result

with much toil

of his efforts

available

and great

is a catalog

this

of more than 2100 references

US at the end of April

in the

has achieved

edited

7976,

with

un-

goal.

The

which were

many summarizing

comments. graphs and tables. The material metallic

is presented

derivatives.

non-cyclic

Part II presents

unsaturated

rated and cyclic

organic

ligands.

are considered

complexes.

In each part,

also

halides,

vatives

are discussed.

the elements boron, nium and teTluriun

in this

has often

concerning

compounds with unsatumetal-carbon

pure caroonyl

carboxylates is relatively

to the traditionally

spectroscopy

features

by uncritical

and similar broad.

deri-

It includes

antimony,

accepted

metals.

sele-

and unequivocal

of organometallic

users.

compounds,

arsenic,

to provide.clear

in-

or cyanide

to the pure organometal?ic

of me&l

the structural

been overestimated

except

germanium, phosphorus,

in addition

The power of vibrational information

text,

pseudohalides,

Definition

silicon,

a review of metal complexes with

All systems with direct

in addition

hydrides,

Part I deals with al kyl organo-

Part III discusses

ligands.

teractions

their

in three parts.

For example,

compounds it has often

c51

_ been

overlooked

that-

selec&_on

rules

in

condensed

states

can

be affected

_by other thati intramolecular factors. Conclusions concerning molecular symetries

cerning

condensed state

based.on

data,

in particular

conclusions

con-

molecuiai distortions, were therefore frequently misleading.

other cases -frequency

shifts,

were often

for example. those observed

plexed

ligands,

automatically

fects.

This approach has led to dubious

energy and coupling phenomena should

but the simplest physical

systems,

force

constants

sequence,

based on many assumptions conclusions

merit of Maslowsky’s

the fact

caution

book that,

is made to these and similar

that,

in all

have a real

parameters whose magnitudes

and incomplete

information.

based on the magnitudes of force

often been made with less

Uncritical

from vibrational

do not necessarily

defined

energy ef-

too.

derived

have neglected

meaning, but are artificially

are usually

fields

and corn-

whenever kinetic

have been considered,

The authors of many studies

free

to potential

interpretatiqns

been made of the force

use has also often analyses.

related

for

In

field

As a con-

parameters have

than would have been desirable. It is a in the discussions

imperfections

of czlystudies,

of applied

vibrational

reference spectros-

copy In many sections

it

is quite

of some of the controversies tional cases

spectra

exciting

which arose

one also

appreciates

structures.

and sufficiently

very much the fact

book some references

on other

electron

and Nt?R-spectroscopy)

diffraction

to.many controversies The text trivial have

a wish,

techniques

uould probably

reference

desire,

to have a formula register

of the vibra-

accurate.

but it does not quite

In this

con-

which have provided

important

structures. from only a few

92 in Part III.

If one could

in view of the abundance of prefor

this

(such as X-ray diffraction,

quick reference

to particular

An index of groups of compounds and of characteristic

is offered

of such

that the author includedin

organometallic

such as a missing he

sented data,

cies

involving

presentation

tiis evaluation

has been prepared with much care and suffers

errors

molecules.

physical

Maslowsky’s

in the interpretation

of a number of interesting

always appears to be impartial

text

to follow

serve the same purpose.

frequenIn any case,

data

:

C52

this

book is arr efficient

highly -active

research

and thorough area.

hook to anyone whose research

cornpendiun of an imp&an~

I- recommend it_ as a ‘very

is in some way involved

useful

and

reference

Hith-organ&etallic~

chemistry. Lothar Department of Chemistry University of Arkansas Fayettevi?le, Arkansas 72701

SchZfer

.: ._