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BOOK REVIEWS Crystal Structures. Supplement 111. R . W. G. WYCKOFF. apqroach in selecting “suitable catalysts for hitherto unInterscience Publishers,. Inc., 250 Fifth Avenue, New known chemical reactions,” in the estimation of this reviewer, is essentially different from the approach taken York 1, X. Y. 1958. 556 pp. 20 X 24.5 cm. Price, 320.00. by the authors of the above book. It should be understood t h a t this is not a criticism of the authors, but more ,111 who have a serious interest in the structure of crystals generally of the efforts of many outstanding physical chemare undoubtedly familiar with the monumental task underists to reach the above goal. taken by Dr. Wyckoff in his publication of “Crystal StrucThis reviewer introduced the concept of catalytzr chemistry tures.” Supplement 111 continues in the style established about fifteen years ago’ and has defined and described it as a in sections published in 1948, 1951, 1953 and 1957. It prodevelopment of classical organic and inorganic vides in loose leaf form additions which will complete Chap- natural chemistry. Just as the advances of physical chemistry ters I-VI11 of Sections I and I1 on Inorganic Compounds. in our century, and they have been outstanding, have been New structural information for the elements and for comindependent of either inorganic or organic chemistry, so pounds of the general types RX, R X 2 , R,Xn, R(MX,), this reviewer feels that the advance of catalytic chemistry Rn(MXd)* and R n ( M X 4 ) =is summarized. Some tables does not by necessity have t o rely only on physical chemhave been revised t o include more recent data and are desigistry. H e firmly believes that future catalytic chemists nated as replacements for those in the earlier publication. will reach the goal defined by the authors of the book, The majority of the material is supplementary, however, following the footsteps of Sabatier and Ipatieff. covering references over the period 1948-1954, with limited references t o papers in 1955. (1) I n d , Eng. Ciienz., 35, 76‘2 (1043). The present supplement is certainly essential for any library maintaining reference works on structural informaRESEARCH IXSTITUTE OF TEMPLE USIVERSITY tion. It is intended to fit into the previously published 4150 HENRYAVENUE A. \’. GROSSE volumes and would lose much of its utility if purchased indePHILADELPHIA 44, PA. pendently. Chemists concerned with the structure of inorganic substances will be particularly pleased t o learn of the availability of this latest contribution. Cahiers de Syntheses Organique. MBthodes et Tableaux DEPARTMENT O F CHEMISTRY D’Application. Volume 111. Collection PubliCe sous la USIVERSITYOF WASHINGTOS S.b‘.GREGORY Direction de LEON VELLUZ,JEAX MATHIEUET ANDRE SEATTLE5, \VASHINGTON ALLAIS, IngCnieurs-Docteurs. Masson et Cic., 120, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris VI,, France. 1957. 266 pp. 15.5 X 22.5 crn. Price, BrochC: 4.200 frs.: Contact Catalysis. By R . H . GRIFFITH,D. Phil., Director, Cartonne toile: 4.600 frs. London Research Station, The Gas Council, and J. D. F. This is the third volume of a projected ten to twelve volMARSH,M. A,, B. Sc., Research Department, The North ume series, edited by Leon Velluz and written by J . Mathieu Thames Gas Board. Third Edition of “The Mechanism of Contact Catalysis.” Oxford University Press, 114 and A. Allais with the assistance of J . Walls and P. Poirier. This volume consists of three chapters which are as folFifth Avenue, h’ew York 11, N.Y. 1957. x 299 pp. lows: 15 X 22 cm. Price, $8 00 6. This chapter deals with condensation reactions T h e above book is the third expanded edition of “The leading to the formation of compounds containing a carbonMechanism of Contact Catalysis.” Ten years have elapsed carbon double or triple bond. The Azlactone, Knoevenagel, since the second edition appeared and a very large amount Perkin and Stobbe condensations, to mention cinly a few, of research in the field of both catalysis and catalytic chemare grouped together in this chapter. istry has taken place. The new edition brings the the7. This chapter is concerned with hydroxyalkylation and oretical and experimental results up-to-date and includes a aminoalkylation in the aliphatic series. T h e reactions diswealth of new material. cussed here are those which result in the introduction of an The book is divided into the following ten chapters: alkyl group with a n a-hydroxyl or amino group in a n ali(1) T h e Preparation and Evaluation of Catalysts; (2) phatic compound. T h e reactions of active methylene and Examination of the Catalyst Surface; ( 3 ) Adsorption; (1) acetylenic compounds with carbonyl or imino compounds The Electronic Factor in Catalysis; (5) Geometry of the are grouped in this chapter together with the Grignard, Catalyst Surface; (6) Promoters and Carriers; (7) Poison- Mannich and Reformatsky reactions. The Stevens reing, Retardation, Fouling, and Sintering; ( 8 ) The Reactions arrangement of ammonium or sulfonium compounds and the of Hydrocarbons; (9) T h e Mechanism of Catalysis and Wittig rearrangement of allylic or benzylic ethers seem to (10) T h e Development of Catalysts. be misplaced in this section since they are concerned with The material has been well chosen by the authors. This a n intramolecular type of. reaction. reviewer enjoyed particularly the pages regarding the ef8. T h e last chapter of the book contains a discussion o f fects of diffusion ( p . 31), the electrical properties of catahydroxyalkylation and aminoalkylatiou in the aromatic series. The reactions of aromatic Grignard reagents with lysts ( p . 18) and surface area measurements (p. 58), because of their clarity of presentation. For those who are carbonyl or imino compounds are described in this chapter together xq-ith some typical reactions restricted to the arointerested in a concise, up-to-date book suniiriarizing the matic series, such as the Haminick reaction, and the conresults of physical-chemical research on contact catalysis, densation of phenols or aromatic :imines with chlc~ral, this book is highly recommended. mesoxalic esters or alloxan. The authors state (p. 269): “With a full understanding of the underlying principles of catalysis, it should be possible Each chapter begins with :i table of symbols which the to select suitable catalysts for hitherto unknown chemical reader will find very useful in locating, almost a t a glance, any reaction discussed in the chapter. After a brief introreactions and to be certain that the best catalysts were already available for existing processes.” I n spite of the duction concerning the principles of the reactions covered in the chapter, a section oil the mechanisms of these reacniaiiy elegant and precise methods introduced in past years tions follows. However, the usefulness of this section on bs- physical chemistry. this reviewer is left with a feeling of uneasiness and even doubt regarding the eventual success mechanisms is doubtful sincc only a w r y shdlow treatment of reaching the above goal by present physico-cheniical is given. The next section is concerned nit11 applications, ;.e., the uses of the compounds obtained as intermediates for direction of catalytic research. Catalytic chemistrl- in our further reactions. The reaction types are then discussed century has been advanced by such outstanding chemists in turn and the material included is arranged in a semias P . Sabatier, Y . Ipatieff, F . Fisher and H. Tropsch, and tabular fashiou. Each chapter closes with a tabular survey in recent decades by W .Reppe. S o n e of the above scienof a number of examples taken from the literature. The tists (except Sabatier) are mentioned in the book. Their
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