ture; employment of curved arrows to trsce electron movement. and of Newman and three-dimensional formulas for spatiality of molecules. The more recent topics of benzynes, carbenes, enamines, and hydroboration bave been introduced. Likewise, new problems have been added, but at the expense of omitting the review questions and decreasing the number of problems having similarity. The answers for the problems are given in the appendix. I t would be an added featureif suggested readings or references to pertinent topics could be included. Many students desire to go beyond the text and this would provide an avenue into the use of the journals or other references. The author should be commended for his blending of the modern with the treditiond and far his successful attempt "to present a well-rounded text by giving equal weight to the theoretical, experimental, and practical aspects of the subject." It is a text worthy of consideration either for classroom use or for reference.
Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois
Organic Chemistry
Robert T . Morrisa and Robert N e i k a Boyd, both of the New York University. 2nd ed. Allyn and Bacon, Inc., Boston, 1966. ix 1204 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 24.5 cm. $13.95
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This excellent and well-known text for the beginning student of organic chemistry has been revised in many important aspects. Recalling that the first edition pioneered in bringing theory of organic chemistry to these students, stereochemistry isintroduced quiteearly sndspeetroscopy becomes an integral part of the new text. Optical aotivity and enitntiomers are presented in Chapter 3 rand diastereoisomers in Chapter 7. Conformationd isomers are discussed with the alkanes in Chapter 4. These concepts are then used
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Str;eture, comes one thud way through the book; major emphasis is on NhIR and secondarily on IR. Over 100 spectra of both types are reproduced in text and problems for interpretation; about six dozen additional problems involve spectroscopic data. This text will be most generally compared with that by Roberts and Caserio. Botb place heavy emphasis on spectros copy, but Roberts and Caserio begin this study in their second chapter. Morrison and Boyd reason that the relationship between structure and spectra is better understood "after the student has begun to find his way about this strange new landscape." (Page v.) The valued features of numbered sections within esrh chal>rerand rhe cutlines of prepnmrionz and renrrions of iunctionnl Knupi are rw~incd; nuw wferenrra ro sections for discussion of each are given. There is little deleted from the f i s t edi-
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Journal o f Chemical Education
tion, but most chapters have some sections rewritten and some sections added. Special attention has been given to revisions of discussions of mechanisms. Certain chapters are largely rearranged, especially the three on benzene, electrophilic aromatic substitution and arenes. Aromaticity particularly receives added consideration. Instead of following alkyl halides (Chapter 14), aryl halides and nucleopbilic aromatic substitution are postponed to Chapter 26. Chapters on phenols and sulfanic acids are also postponed to allow aldehydes and ketones to be discussed somewhat earlier. This important subject is split into Chapter 19 (preparations and nucleophilie additions) snd Chapter 27 (carbanion reactions). Material on aldehydes and ketones is lengthened from 39 to 89 pages. However, it is perhaps better to have the two chapters adjacent and preceding carboxylic acids and their derivatives. Epoxides are included in Chapter 28 with glycols instead of with ethers. Subsequent chapters consider palyfunctiond compounds. Although a few are indexed, a chapter on organometallic compounds was not added to the new edition. This is unfortunate considering the growing importance of this field which bridges the traditional gap between organic and inorganic chemistry. Since mechanisms are so vital a part of the hook, some oxidation mechanisms, e.g., permanganate and chromate ions might bave been included. The ttuthors have s refreshing style and are a t times humorous. I n places they may seem verbose, for instances, chlorination of methane takes 24 pages. But topics included in this first mechanism are description of the free radical mecechs, nism, bond energy, he& f reaction, active tion energy, reaction rates, structure of the methyl radical and transitions states. Errors are very few and minor. Diagrams on energy and of atomic models are enlarged. The book is primarily for students and above all it is readable. Morrison and Boyd have the ability to make difficult topics understandable. Chemists, both industrial and academic, can use this hook for an enjoyable experience in renewing their knowledge of modern organic chemistry. MORDECAI TREBLOW Bloomsburg State College Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Organic and Dialogical Chemistry
Zrvin E. Liener, University of Minnesota, Minne&polis. Ronald Press Co., New 466 pp. Figs. and York, 1966. ix tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. 58.
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This hook is intended ss a text for the beginning biochemistry student who has had no previous background in organic chemistry. About one quarter of the pages are devoted to the nomenclature, preparation, and reactions of the major classes of organic compounds. The remainder of the book follows the rather standard organization of a beginning biochemistry text: Composition of living
matter, intermedimy metabolism, metabolic control, itnd a few specialized topics. The text iu clear itnd easy to read, and the various figures and metabolic reactions particularly easy to follow. The selection of topics to be covered, which is a problem in any condensed book, hits for the most part been good. However, I would not agree that the metabolic pathways for the degrrtdat,ion of the individual amino acids, which are discussed, are of more importance to the beginning student than a discussion of the hexose monophospbate shunt, which is noted as being beyond the scope of the book. Over-simplification also becomes a problem in an elementary text. The student is informed that "the pyrophosphate bond yields about 60006000 cal/male when hydrolyzed" without B discussion of e l c mentary thermodynamics or the concept of the relationship of free energy changes to equilibrium constants. The suggested readings at the end of each chapter are very well chosen and would be an excellent euide to the serious
as areference text.
If it is desirable to attempt to teach biochemistry without tLn organic prerequisite, which I doubt, this book should be given consideration as a text. Theorganic section. althoueh .. it ,.rives the student no ihsight into orglnnc nlerhani.;rn., adl at .~IUW lellit wqwiinr h w w t h I I O I I I F ~ ~ C ~und atrnwturnl form~tlis. Cu.a~dtreda * a I k chemistry text alone, it compares favorably with, but does not appear to be a real improvement on a number already available for use in an undergraduate course. J. W. SUTTIE Universitu of Wisconsin Madison
Reaclion Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry
Bianco Tchoubar. 2nd ed. American Elsevier Publishing Co., New York, 1966. 197 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $8.75. In recent years the subject of reaction mechanisms has become an integral part of the sophomore course in introductory organic chemistry. Such textbooks ss Bordwell, Bonner and Castro, Roberts and Caserio, and Smith and Cristol provide a lucid treatment of physical organic chemistry on a level designed to convey the "orderliness" of this science to the student. The stated intent of Tchoubar's hook is "to provide a comprehensive introduction to a branch of organic chemistry.. .which is of the utmost importance to every organic chemist." The author's goal has unfortunately not been realiaed. The book is neither as cornplrherr.:ve M monographs t,y G N ~ J . Iline, or Wihrrg, nor u;i y ~ n dn irrtmhcFI~IIV. tcw rrxt as Br+
