JUNE, 1953 and Phthalide (55 pages), 3. Dihenaofuran (Diphenylene Oxide) (22 pages), 4. Thionsphthene (19 pages), 5. Dihenaothiophene (9 pages), 6. Coumarins (44 pages), 7. Isoconmarins (12 pages), 8. Chramones, Flavones, and Isoflavones (48 pages), 9. Chromenols, Chromenes, and Bensopyrylium Salts: The Anthooyanins (66 pages), 10. Chromanones, Flavanones, Chromanols, and Flavanols: Crttechin, Brazilin, and Hematoxylin (50 pages), 11. Chromans (26 pages), 12. Xanthanes, Xanthenes, Xanthydrols, and Xanthylium Salts (82 pages), 13. Fluorans, Fluoresceins, and Rhodamines (32 pages), and 14. Thiochromans and Related Compounds (I8 pages). Chapter 1 was written by K. C. Elderfield and V. B. Meyer, Chapter 2 by R. C. Elderfield, Chapter 3 by W. E. Parham, Chapters 4 and 5 by D. K. Fnknshima, Chapters 6-13 by S. Wawzonek. and Chanter 14 hv D. S. Tarhell. I t will he noted that almost twa-thirds of this volume has heen written by one author. Inasmuch as Chapters 6 through 13 are concerned with polyeyclie compounds, each containing a six-membered ring with one oxygen heteroatom, a much more uniform treatment of the many types of oompounds discussed in these chapters has been accohd&hed than would have been possihle if several different authors had been involved. The numher of pages in this book which are devoted to the heterocyclic sulfur compounds (46 pages) is much less than that allotted to the heterocyclic oxygen compounds (504 pages). This differenceis due in part to the smaller amount of information available on the heterocyclic sulfur compounds within the scope of this volume and in part to the stated intentions of the editor to slight these compounds somewhat because their chemistry ". . . narallels to a. considerable extent that of their oxveen Son of indigo in a, future volume. A large number of natural products fall within the scope of this volume. The coverage of the natural products within the particular chappters tends to be somewhat uneven. For example, Chapter 1 devotes more than 11 pages to a discussion of the investigations leading to the structure of usnic acid and omits even brief mention of the polyhydroxyhenaalcoumaranoneswhich are known to he present in the anthachlor pigment mixtures of certain plants. Only six pages in Chapter 11 are devoted to a discussion of the tocopherols, while discussions of hrazilin and hematoxylin cover thirteen pages in Chapter 10. In Chapters 6-13, the natural products of known structure within the scope of each chapter are listed in table form, giving common name, systematic name or structural formula, and references to isolation and synthesis of each. Except in the case of the anthocyanins, relatively little information has been presented which would he of assistance in the isolation, purification, and identification of the natural products. To same chemists, this may he considered as a fault of the volume. It has obviously, however, not been the intention of the editor to make of this volume a monograph on these aspects of natural products. In spite of this fact, there is much of value in this volume for the chemist interested in naturally occurring polycyclic compounds with one heterocyclic oxvaen atom. Emnhrtsis has been daced on discussions of
325 All students of the chemistry of heterocyclic compounds and r e lated plant products should have access to this book although the high price makes it likely that relatively few of these will purchase the hook. EARL C. SPAETH UN'Vess'Tr s~onnsc .oFCoNNECTICUT oaaec~ncm
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS
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I. P. Sisley, General Director, Technical Institute of Studies and Research on Fatty Matters, and General S+cretary, Association of Chemists of the Textile Industry (both in France). Translated from the French and revised by P. I. Wood, Technical Director, Royce Chemical Co. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 540 pp. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $15. 1952. iv
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THE original French version appeared in 1949, the English translation in 1952. The first hundred Dazes or so cover a discussion of types of surface-active agents, general methods of p r e p aration, representative products with formulas, and applications. A chemical classification of surfactants takes up about five pages, with many suhclitsses under the general headings of (1) Anionic compounds, (2) Cationic, (3) Nonionic, (4) Mixtures of anion-active compounds, and (5) Mixtures of various products with soaps, sulfonated oils, and synthetic detergents. Some 2500 commercial products are listed by trade name and manufacturer only, arranged in the order of this chemical clrtssifieation. These products are next listed in alphahetical order by trade name, with specific information about each, which varies in completeness, but which may give composition, class, physical form, properties, reaction, applications, and references. The translator has attempted to bring the book up to date by adding as an appendix some hundred-odd products in alphabetical order with the same type of information. The products listed are manufactured in the following conntries: In America-Argentina, Canada, the United States; in Europe-Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Poland. Scotland, Switzerland, and Yugorrlavia; in Asis-Japan. The number of products from each is in general related to the development of the chemical industry of the country. Japan is an exception, having only 2 listed; Hungary has 2, Poland 2, and Germany about 50. The information supplied is well presented. \Vhen used as a reference one may consult the table of contents, or class and alphebetical listings, as no index is included. For information an U. S. made products, other published sources, supply more commore un-to-date material. such as "Surface Active nlct, , ~ ~and - ~ Agents" by A. ~ I ' S c h w a r t zand J. W. Perry for general infarmation, and J. W. McCutcheon's 1952 list of commercial products for specific information. The value of the hook is its world-wide scope. For those interested in learning what surfactsnts are being made in other countries, it is a unique source. ~~
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CORNELIA T. SNELL
F o s ~ D. e ~S ~ n m INC. . NEWYoR., NET Yon=
stood more easily. Certain chapters (3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12) contain brief comments eoneerniug the physiologioal or pharmacological activity of the group of compounds in each of these chapters. T h s e comments are apparently meant to he guides to the pertinent literature on the subject rather than as important sources of infarmstion. A 21-page index is included in this volume. This index is arranged mainly according to mdividual compounds or groups of compounds. The compounds in the various tables of natural products me not included in the index unless they are also mentioned elsewhere in the text. The editor, the individual authors, and publisher are to be complemented for the production of this excellent volume. Praise is due especially to S. Wawzonek for his major role as author.
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HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION
John E. Ricci, Professor of Chemistry, New York University. Princeton University Press, Princeton. New Jersey, 1952. xxxvi 460 pp. Illustrated. 16 X 24.5 cm. $10.
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ACCORDING to the preface, the purpose of this hook is to cousider the problem of hydrogen ion concentration in general and in detail without depending upon any theories of the mechanism of ionization. Instead, it is supposed "to present a systematic derivation of interrelated formulas for calculations involving the hydrogen ion concentration in various aqueous solutions of almost any degree of complexity."
