416
JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION CHEMlSTRY OF CARBON COMPOUNDS. VOLUME 111. PART A: AROMATIC COMPOUNDS
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Edited by E. H. Rodd. Elsevier Publishing Co., New York, 1954. 685 pp. 56 tables. 16 X 2 3 om. Subscription price, $15; single copy, $17.50.
xxiv
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VOLUME IIIA of ('Chemistry of Carbon Compounds" marks the approximate midpoint in this five-volume comprehensive organic treatise. Previous Volumes I and I1 have covered a h h a t i c and slirwliv vunlpuun~l~. n hile the prewnr Volunw Ill.\ d & t , o f .m i~rtn~luction lo aromatie rl~cnusrr).,wntii~lwingl,cnrrnk, hnd its l ' hm ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ eVolumr d i n p 1711%is srhrdm m m u ~ l ~ d~rivativw. ~nr ultd la romplrlr 1111. c hrmicrry of i.t,trnw dnivorivvr and to I \ , I ~ sidw psmdo-;mrnaric and polyrrt~r.lrwaro~nnrirS I I I , E I ~ V C P . The prwrnt solurnr, rdired I,? Dr. I:. 11. Itoda and Iis.hlrisor,v w,wd of outsr:tr~rlinf-I(riti5h vhvmirt.i, cot~;i.;rz of ten &rmri contributed each b y one or more authors. The introduotory chapter (Ingold, Hey, Williams, Campbell) develops the history and theory of aromatic character and the chemistry of aromatic electrophilio and nucleophilio substitutions. I n sucoeeding chapters, which consider the wide varieties of functional sobstituents in the benzene nucleus, the emphasis is distinctly d e seriptive rather than theoretical, in keeping with the bmad objectives of tho series. These ohapters fallow the usual convenient treatment of general syntheses, properties, and reactions, followed by extensive lists of specifio important members of the series under consideration. Numerous tables of physical properties are also inoluded, but relatively little reliance is made on equations and figures. No claim is made that the literature in any particular section of the hook is covered completely to a certain date. The selection of included materid iis based, as in the past, on its intrinsic importance as seen by the contributors and editor. The balance between e d y and current literature appears about t in the series. the same as that which characterized ~ a svolumes Utility of the present volume is enhanced by an 82-page index containing almost 9000 entries, as well as by frequent reference to previous volumes. There is little question that the present hook maintains the excellent standards which past volumes of this treatise havc led chemists to expeot. The painstaking editorial work going into these volumes is attested by the inrluded Addenda and Corrigenda to the previous Volunle IIB, which contains a mere 25 entries. I t is gratifying that chemists may continue to purchase such excellent reference volumes a t such a moderate oost. ~
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WILLIAM A. B O N N E R
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illustrate the extension of physical methods to z study of other types of structural features, such as bond distances, inter- and intrt~moleoular associations, sterwchemical relationships, canjugative effects, etc. The ohaptem each include s. brief discussion of the experimental methods used with references to sources providing more detailed descriptions. The major emphasis is given to examples of the types of structural problems to which the method has been applied. The particular value of the book Lies in the numerous discussions of the application of the methoda t o specific problems. The critical discussions provided by the authors relative t o these problems seem to he of uniformly high quality. The subject matter is treated in three parts: (1) The Determination of Molecular Sue (two chapters, 67 DO.). (2j he Determination of Molecular Pattern (five chapters, 27fi on.). r.,. (3) The Determination of Molecular Fine-Structure (ninr chapters, 431 pp.). For methods most often useful in augmenting his chemical studies the orgsnic chemist probably will be attracted first to: "Optical rotation'' by W. Klyne (53 pp., 149 ref.); "Ultr&vialet and visible light absorption" by E. A. Braude (55 pp., 156 ref.); "Infrared light absorption" by R. C. Gore and (in part) E. S. Waight (33 pp., 67 ref.); "Dissociation constmtn" by H. C. Brown, D. H. MoDaniel, and 0. HiSiger (88 pp., 239 ref., 47 tables); "Reaction kinetics" by E. A. Braude and L. M. Jackmsn (56 pp., 160 ref.); "Rzman spectra" by F. F.Cleveland (26 pp., 22 ref.); "Magnetic susceptibilities" by C. A. Hutchison, Jr., (60 pp., 87 ref.); "Dipole moments" by L. E. Sutton (47 pp., 225 ref.); "X-ray diffraction" hv J. M. Robertson (36 no. 83 ref.). chapters-of samewhst iesn immediate and &nerd interest arc: "Phase pyaperties of small molecules" by 1%.F. Herhrandson and F. C. Knchod (21 pp., TO ref.); "Equilibrium and dynamic properties of lwge molecules" by 1'. Johnmn (42 pp., 151 ref.); "Surface films" by E . Stenhagen (43 pp., 144 ref.); "Mimowave spectroscopy" by E. B. Wilson, Jr., and D. R. Lide, Jr. (20 pp., 40 wf.); "Thermodynamic properties" by J. G. Aston (29 pp., 88 ref.); "Electron diffraction" hy J. Karle and I. L. Karle (32 pp., 77 ref.). Although the chapter on "Wnve-mechanical theory" by C. A. Coulson is of a somewhat diierent character from the others its presence seems fitting, and it is a most wclcome addition. Those chapters dealing with material familiar to the writer were of out~tandingqua1it.y. This high level appears to have heen maintained throughout. The book will serve as s. first reference source far chemists seeking new approaches to structural studies. It should inspire fresh attacks on some old prahlema, and ia recommended highly.
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F. G. B O R D W E L L
DETERMINATION OF ORGANIC STRUCTURES BY PHYSICAL METHODS
Edited by E. A. Bloude, Imperial College of Science and Technology, and F. C.Nacbod, Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1955. dii 610 pp. 155 figs. 162 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $15.
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WITH the ever inoreasing importance of physical methods in organic structure determination and in the study of organic reactions, it is appropriate that a referenoe text be devoted to this subject. The revolution in organic structure determination accomplished during the past 15 years by the utilization of infrared spectra no doubt will insure the careful attention of organic chemists even to some of the less familiar physical measurements included in this outstanding new work. I n somc respects a title such as "The Application of Physical Methods to Structure Problems of Organic Molecules" might have been more fitting. The authors interpret the word "structure" in its widest sense, and on the whole take for granted the "determination of structure" as the organic chemist understands the term. I t is their object not only to show how physical methods have become an important auxiliary to the classical determination of structure by chemical methods, hut also, to
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MEl'HODEN DER ORGANISCHEN CHEMIE. BAND IX: SPEZlELLE CHEMISCHE METHODEN. HERSTELLUNG UND UMWANDLUNG VON SCHWEFEL-, SELEN-, TELLURVERBINDUNGEN
Edited bv Euoen Miiller. Fourth edition. Georo Thieme Verlag, ~iuttgak,1955. x1337 pp. 9 figs. b9 tables. 18.5 X 26.5 cm. $54.50.
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PLINYTHE ELDER,in describing the poisonous effects of certain animals of the sea, states that if washed ashore and perchance a man an horseback pierces them with a spes~.,the poison tcrvels up the spear, diffuses through the man's body, soaks through the saddle, and kills the horse. From this we may conclude that Pliny was a true prehistoric Texan. This refreshing literary style of transfusing a subject, in which the facts are dim and obscure, with interest and amusement has not been followed by the aut,hors of (iDic Methotam der Organischen Chemie." The
