book reviews
want to hrush up on a topic hefore a lecture or who need s good source to whieh t o send students who ask penetrating questions after s lecture. One the other hand, I suspect that most experts in quantum chemistry will he amused and enlightened by a t least some of the ingenious hut effective word pictures used by the author to explain complex topics. Indeed, the hook is a gold mine of such explanations. The fact that the explanations are usually non-mathematical does not mean that they are superficial or trivial. Furthermore. a set of grad-
and a mention of whieh aspect of the topic is emphasized in each reference. The hook contains a total of nearly 200 entries. Some topics are quite elementary and man" readers mieht have been exoect-
and esoteric entries are also found (e.g., Koopman's theorem, density matrix, Dirac equation, second quantization, fine structure constant, Gaussian atomic orbitals, Hellman-Feynman theorem, Hund coupling cases, Jahn-Teller effect, PaschenBack effect, polaron, quantum eleetrody-
namies, Ramsauer effect, Renner effect, Wigner coefficients). Extended discussion (more than three pages) is given of the following topics: band theory of metals, bond, electron spin resonance, g-value, Hijckel method, hydrogen atom, hyperfine interaction, magnetic properties, molecular orbitals, perturbation, Raman effect, rotation of molecules, SchrRedinger equation, and valence bond. A useful system of cross-referencing topics is used involving the use of a small superscript circle before each word in the text which appears as an entry elsewhere in the book. Each topic is followed by a set of questions, many suitable for examinations and assigned problems. Many of these will challenge the serious student and help greatly in comprehension. The book is nicely produced. The pages are of douhle size, so that the hook is actually the equivalent of a 600-page text. The paper is heavy and the margins generous. Two color printing is used in both the illustrations whieh are excellent, and in the text, where it could have dispensed with. All of this has undoubtedly added to the cost of the book, which is unfortunate hecause it deserves a wider distribution than it may receive because of its high price. Walter Kaurrnann Princeton university Princeton. New Jersey 08540
Reagents for Organic Synthesis. Volume 4
Mary Fieser and Louis F Fieser, Harvard University. John Wiley & Sons, he., New York, 1974. 660 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $24.95. This is the fourth volume in a series which, since its inception in 1967, has become the reference of choice for the practicing chemist seeking information about reagents for organic synthesis. Volume 4 covers the period from 1970 to early 1973 (I counted some 255 references to the 1973 literature), although the Fiesers freely include earlier material that may have been missed in preceding volumes (e.g., a 1944 Japanese modification of the Rosemund reduction a t room temperature and atmospheric pressure). There are 291 reagents that are reviewed for the first time and new information on 350 other reagents that were reviewed in one or more previous volumes. There is a subject index, an author index, and an index of reagents according to type. The type index lacks page numbers and generally seems less complete than the exhaustive subject index. There is an errata page for volume 3 and a list of ten additional suppliers (volume 3 has the complete list of chemical suppliers), not including the several off-beat suppliers mentioned in the text (e.g., General Mills for aliquat 336 and paint stores for capper bronze). The writing is clear, the presentation is excellent, and the Fiesers have again demonstrated their ability to smoothly organize and critically evaluate a myriad of material. There are timely treatments of phasetransfer and organocopper reagents, lithium dialkylamides, and new uses of the dipolar apratic solvents dimethyl sulfoxide and hexamethylphosphoric triamide. This volume, like the others, seems virtually error-free and the authors attention to detail is admirable (e.g., the corrected boiling point for 1,3-propanedithiol and the revised zip code for Chemical Samples Co. noted in volume 3). However, several inconsistencies were noted: molecular weights and physical properties are not always given for new reagents; several reagents are discussed under a name reaction (e.g., Simmons-Smith, Birch reduction, Corefs reducing agent, Urushibara hydrogenation catalysts) instead of under the name of the reagent itself; some reagents are listed in two or more places (e.g., "amidines, bicyclie" and "1.5-diazahieycla[4.3.0]nonene-5") with a concomitant duplication of discussion (e.g., the synthesis of stibiabenzene using DBN is presented twice); some reagents are listed under artificial titles (e.g., argon is the only entry under "gases, inert," why not "argon"?); and some entries seem forced (e.g., the inclusion of aziridine as a "reagent" for the reaction of it with chloroform and methoxide; and pyrene as a "reagent" in a synthesis of 3,4-benzpyrene whose main feature is a new solvent in the Walff-Kishner reduction step of the synthesis where pyrene is the starting material-the same synthesis is listed again under "hydrazine"). Many references are given t o unpublished procedures which have been submit-
(Continued on page A661 A64 / Journal of Chemical Education
ted to "Organic Syntheses" (I counted 55 such citations) and which will therefore be unavailable to mast readers for some time. For some of these reagents the Fiesers have included complete experimental procedures, but for most we will have to wait until they are checked and finally published in "Organic Syntheses." The criticism of the series is the unavoidable one in a treatise of this type: one must often search through four volumes to find information about one reagent. This annoyance will increase as the series expands unless the publishers and the authors decide to combine several volumes into ealledive ones like the collective volumes of "Organic Syntheses." I strongly recommend the complete set of these books both to the practicing synthetic organic chemist (including graduate students) and to the libraries of those teachers of organic chemistry who wish to keep abreast of new reagents and new synthetic techniques. Gordon W . Gribble Dartmouth Colkge Haoover, New Hampshire 03755
Advances in Chromatography. Volume II
Edited by Caluin Giddings, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and Roy A. Keller, State University of New York, College a t Fredonia. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1974. xi 196 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $19.75.
+
The latest volume in the series, "Advances in Chromatography," this hook in-
cludes chapters on "Quantitative Analysis by Gas Chromatography" by Josef Novak; "Polyamide Layer Chromatography" by Kung-Tsung Wang, Yan-Tang Lin, and Iris S. Y. Wang; "Specifically Adsorbing Silica Gels" by H. Bartels and B. Prijs; and "Non-destructive Detection Methods in Paper and Thin Layer Chromatography" by G. C. Barrett.
A66 / Journal of Chemical Education
The chapter on "Quantitative Analysis by Gas Chromatography" tackles one of the most important aspects of gas chromatography which has not, in this reviewer's opinion, been treated successfully elsewhere. The author has considered every aspect of the response of a detector to an eluting peak including the prediction of the relative molar responses for seven well known detectors: thermal conductivity, Martin's eas densitv halance. Scott's microflame, flame-ionization, eross-section ionization, electron-capture, and the argonionization detectors. The treatment of this material is mathematically very thorough and i t should be suggested reading and reference material for any graduate course in separations. The only limitation of this chapter is the diffic u l t ~in readabilitv which is nrohahlv the result of translation difficulties. The chapter on "Polyamide Layer Chromatography" consists of comprehensive review articles of all the papers on this subject up until March 1972. The subject matter includes sections on preparation of beds for bath analytical and preparative purposes and the application of this technique for various biologically important compounds. The chapter on "Specifically Adsorbing Silica Gels" covers this less well-known area which is developing a t a modest rate. The reviewer found the authors' treatment of the subject matter excellent because it is clear, concise, and gives a thorough overview of the subject. The authors have described the technique in general, considered the mechanism and application of these gels, and have also suggested where this field will advance in the future. The final chapter on "Nondestructive Detection Methods in Paper and Thin Layer Chromatography" consists of a review article which lists the reagents which may be used for color development of sample hands obtained with paper and thin layer chromatography together with various physical methods of sample band de. . tection. This hook, the reviewer thinks, will serve as a useful reference for most ehrarnatographers and graduate students.
-
Terence H. Risby Pennsylvania State University University Park, PennsylvanB 16802
