BOOK REVIEWS structure in the first 44 pages and eontaining a discussion of reaction mechanisms in the remaining 140 pages. The topics discnssed in section one include an introduction to covalency, bond polarity and conjugation as well as a brief section on acids and bases. The second section begins with s classification of reaction mechanism and an all too brief section on kinetics and reaction energetics. The longest part of this section consists of a discussion of the mechanisms of substitution, elimination, and addition reaotians in the aliphatic series. This is followed by a brief analysis of reactions of carhonyl compounds and concluded by a brief section on aromatic substitution. This book was originally published under the title "Les Mecanismes Reectionnels en Chime Organique" in 1964 and is unfortunately very poorly translated. The book is written a t an elementary level, but without the thoroughness necessary for elementary presentation. It neglects the students' need for carefully explained definitions of terms, and the diagrams are often undecipherable. The style is wordy and what few explanations are given are awkward, although this may be due in large part to the poorness of the translation. The sections discussing the effect of solvent on the mechanism of react,ion and the treatment of activation parameter are by far the best part of the hook. On the
A240
/
Journal of Chemical Education
other hand a student will have difficuity with the sections on carboniom ions, neighboring group effects and aromaticit,y. The use of dot formulations rather than resonance structures tends to be confusing and the many vagne references to MO theory and quantum mechanics %re unnecessary. Words such as dismutation for disproportionation, duplication for dimeriaation, apolar for nonpolar, prototropic process for keto-end tautomerism, log for In, and Zaitsev for Saytaeff add to the confusion. The principal merit in this book lies in the extensive m08s references and good bibliography (to 1963), which will help the reader in finding additional sources for clarification of this materid,
concern or~rselvas hew primarily with dilferences between the two editions. The second edit,ian (1136 pp.) reprcyents an increase of 177 pp. over the first. The increase in the number of pages is apportioned among the three parts of the book asfollaws: 1, GenerdTheory: 85 pp. (187 vs. 102 pp.); 2, Chemistry of Nontrmisition Elements: 49 pp. (429"s. 380 pp.); and 3, Chemistry of the Transition Elements: 57 pp. (489 vs. 432 pp.). Although a mtmher of t,he chapters remain relat,ively unchnneed. in eeneral the text shows evi-
to-date material. For example, the chapter on coordina, tion compounds (Chapter 25 of the first edition), formerly part of the transition HARRY B A B . ~ met,%]seetion of the hook, has been moved UniversiXy of Denver to the general theory section. The chapter Dauw, Colorado on The Inert Gases and Enclosure Compounds (formerly Chapter 6, now Chapter 23) has been retitled The Noble Gases and includes much additional material which Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: reflects the revolutionary discoveries that A Comprehensive Text have taken place in this field since the first F. Albert Cotlon, Mass~chusettsInst,itt~te (1962) edition of the text.. Another chapof Technology, and Geoeqffi.ey Wdkinson, ter which shows extensive rearrangement Imperial College, London. 2nd ed. and addition of new material is the one on Interscience Pnhlishers (a division of Orgsnometallic Compounds of Transition John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), New York, Elements (Chapter 28). 1966. xii 1136 pp. Figs. and tables. Among the new sections are included: 16 X 23.5 cm. $14.50. st,ruetures with close packing of anions; mixed oside structures; molecular symInasmuch as detailed reviews of this metry; water exchange and formation of excellent textbook (rxrs J o u m n r , 40, complexes from aquo ions; Iigand diaplace230[19631; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85, ment reactions in octahedral complexes; 1214[1963]; Inorg. Chem., 2, 665 [1963]) have appeared in the literature, we shall (Conlinmd on page A2441
+
BOOK REVIEWS reactions of coordinated ligands; carboranes; the dioxygenyl cation; threecenter bond theory; multiple bonding; hydrides m d complex hydrides of group I11 elements; the divalent state of group IV elements; substituted sulfur fluorides; and charge-transfer compounds of halogens. The final part of the book, Chemistry of the Transition Elements, which comprises almost half it,slength, contains a number of new sections: optical activity, metal-metal bonds including metal atom clusters; bonding; infrared spectra, and reactions of carbonyl compounds; ligands with extended T systems; chromium peroxo complexes; the so-called snomalous hehavim of Ni(I1) cnmplexes; lower oxidation states of Xi; and complexes of Nb(1V) and Ts(1V) and of Mo and W. The authors have obviously spared no pains in revising the book. Many of the figures and graphs have been redrawn and reduced in size in order to provide space for the additional material cited above. I n many cases, the number of collateral reading references z t the ends of the chapters have been increased. sometimes even ~lwvifiv~ , I F P W I C P S d ~ n l h l . FIITI~I+TIILIIF. s, w t , :I? rmv.1 zi.* l!Ko> prrt>,.wr,pto 1I.e t w t rlntrri.11 have been nddtvl : 1 s f m tuotbi. Symmetry class symbols, d-electron eonfigurations for transition metal ions, and minor changes in nomenclature (AG for AF, 0x0 for oxy, ete.) have also been intmduced. Most of the Appendix of the first edition has been deleted, and with it, unfartunately, all the study problems. I n view of the inadequate index, the omission of subheadings from the table of contents is particularly unfortunate. Aside from these minor complaints, then, this revised edition continues to fulfill the authors' goal of providing a "comprehensive textbook. a t rtn advanced level incorporating the many new chemical developments, particulsrly the more recent theoretical advances in the interpretation of bonding and reactivity in inorganic compounds."
..
G ~ o n B. o ~KAUFPMAN California State College at F r m o Alfred Werner:
Founder of Coordination Chemistry George B. Kauffman, California
State
College a t Fresno. Springer-Verlag 127 New York, Inc., 1966. xv pp. Plates. 17.5 X 24 em. Paperbound. 86.
+
Writing a biography is much more dicult than one might a t first imagine, for no man lives alone. His actions, his attitudes and his accomplishments are determined in large measure hy his inheritsnee, by his training, by the people with whom he associates, and, if he is a scientist, by the degree of development of science in general, and his o m science in particular. The significance of Alfred Werner's work can be fuUy assessed only against the brtckground of the political and social life of his time and in relation to the condition
(Continued a page A,%@) A244
/
Journal of Chemical Education
