BOOK
Steroid Reactions: Organic Chemists
An
Outline
REVIEWS
for
Edited by Carl Djerassi, Stanford University, Stanford, California. Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco, 1963. vi 657 pp. 19 X 26 cm. $9.75.
+
Using the steroid nucleus as a vehicle, this book presents a summery of a number of the more important reactions in organic chemistry. Such general topics as carbonyl and hydroxyl blocking groups, selective oxidations, selective reductions, introduction of fluorine, introduction of double bonds and the formation and reactions of epoxides and episulfides are considered as well as more specific topics for the steroid chemists. The book is a collection of structural formulas and equations with very little text and was compiled by 16 graduate students under the general direction of the editor. It contains fourteen chapters and should he of interest to organic chemists of all persuasions. The stated purpose of this hook is to make available to the non-steroid chemist the wealth of information which has a+
-Reviewed
cumulated in the steroid field. The editor correctly states that "The appearance of the cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene skeleton in a journal article is often sufficientto make even the most experienced organic research chemist turn the pages rapidly without a further glance." At least a portion of this reflex action may be traced to the trivial nature of a goodly portion of the steroid work and to the extreme financial orientation of much of it. Be that as it may, the book fulfills its purpose beautifully. There is, of course, some question about the utility to a non-steroid chemist of such chapters as the Conversion of 2Bketosteroids to 17-ketosteroids or the Preps, ration of Steroidal m-Hydroxy and aAcetoxy Ketones, but the majority of the hook is devoted to topics of wider interest. On the other hand, the utility to steroid chemists is beyond question and, as the editor states, the steroids do present a goad background for such a discussion due to their varied and precise stereochemistry. This book is reminiscent of the classic "Synthetic Organic Chemistry" by Wagner and Zook or "A Texthook of Practical
in This Issue
Carl Djerassi, editor, Steroid Reactions: An Outline for Organic Chemiats Joel H. Hildebrand, An Introduction to Molecular Kinetic Theory Harry H. Sisler, Elertrooic Structure, Properties, and the Periodic Law Robert G. Paw, Quantum Theory of Molecular Electronic Structure Thomas S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Roland R'ard, symposium chairman, Nonstoichiometric Compounds Helrnl~tSchmidt and Mark won Stackelberg, Modem Polarographic Methods James M . Miller, Experimental Gas Chromatography
Alezander Haddoto, editor, Advances in Cancel Research, Volume 7 Paul Delahay, editor, Advances in Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering, Volume 3, Electroehemistry G. N . Ramachandmn, editor, Crystallography and Crystal Perfection: Proceedings of a Symposium held in Madras, J a n u a ~14-18, 1963 and Organized by the University of Madras
Organic Chemistry" by Vogel in that it will help prescribe conditions for a number of simple conversions and reactions. A particularly outstanding section on the protection of carhonyl and hydroxyl groups details not only the various blocking groups and how to supply and remove them, but even describes a number of conditions and ~eaelions to which they are stable. The most exciting feature of this book is the basic concept itself. A book t h t is presented almost entirely as a collection of structures is quite unique. It is concise, elem knowledge a t its best and should he the forerunner of an extensive line of such hooks. The price of the hook is reasonable. The drawings, although photocopied, are clear and the abbreviation system, after a little study, is logical.
JAMES M. BOBBITT The University of Connedicut Stows, Connecticut
A n Introduction t o Molecular Kinetic Theory
Joel H. Hildeb~and, University of California, Berkeley. Selected Topics in Modem Chemistry. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1963. x 105 pp. Figs. and tables. 12.5 X 19 em. Paperbound. $1.95.
+
The editors of the series, Selected Topiw in modern Chemistry, chose Professor Joel Hildehrand, who is well known for his vital interest in teaching and for his rich understanding of physical chemistry, to write the volume on moleculsr kinetic theory, a most important item in the theoretical structure of science. Any firsbyear text deds with the gas laws and kinetic theory to some extent.. The purpose of this little book is to develop the subject moreextensively than any of the standard texts. Presentation in the early pages of introductory material which is duplicated in many texts protects the student against the possibility that his particular text might not lead up to the point where Hildebrand begins. Some textbook authors shy away from historical matter and thus deprive their readers of insight into how scientific knowledge develops. In most of the volumes in the Selected Topics series the subjects are developed historically. Chapter 1 of the present volume deals with the two lines of approach which led to the development of the kinetic theory: attempts to develop a theory of heat (starting with Count Rumford and his cannon) and efforts to account for the properties of gases (starting with Torricelli and his barometer). The kinetic theory of gases was successfully launched by August Kronig in 1856 and independently a year later by Rudolf Clausius. I n Chapter 2, Hidebrand develops the bas3 equation of this theory, P V = 1/3Nmua. He develops the explanation for Dalton's partial pressure law, Avogadro's principle, and the law of combining volumes. He calculates mean
:
(Continued on page 172) Volume dl, Number 3, March 1964
/
171 '
