information is now scattered throughout the book, frequently appearing in the discussion of laboratory experiments. A start in this direction has been made in Chapter 3, Experiments with EDTA Complexes. This hook will be particularly valuable to teachers of general chemistry or quantitative analysis who wish to extend the presentation of eomplexometric titrations beyond the usual "water hardness determination" stopping point.
JR. W. H. MCCURDY, Princeton University Princeton, iVew Jersey
Mono- and Sesquiterpenoidr
P. de Mayo, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. (Vol. 2 in the series "The Chemistry of Nrtturd Products," edited by K . W. Bentky). Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 320 pp. 16 X 23.5 cm. 1959. vii $7.50.
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The Higher Terpenoids
P. de Mayo. (Val. 3 in the above series). Interscience Publishers, Inc., 239 pp. 16 New York, 1959. vii X 2315 cm. $6.
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For generations the study of terpenes has engaged the energies and challenged the minds of organic chemists the world over. I t is a subject area of wide interest and appeal, filled with an almost staggering variety of intriguing structural prohlems and often exceedingly complex transformations. The impetus for such investigation has also contributed greatly to the present-day development and application of many important new tools and reactions in organic chemistry, With the above-titled volumes a newly inaugurated series of intermediate level "texts on the constitution of natural products" makes available a t a modest cost a concisely-written but nevertheless welldeveloped account of the major features of the chemistry of the mono-, sesqui-, di-, and triterpenes (here called "terpenoids"). As in the first monograph of this series, "The Alkaloids," by the Editor, K. W. Bentley [see H. B. Viokery's review, J. CAEM.EDUC.,35. 318 (195811, the typescript text on each left-hand page of the present volumes deals with the Romannumbered, neatly hand-dram structural formulas on the right-hand page facing. This arrangement helps to create a pleasing classroom "blackboard atmosphere" while, a t the same time, it leaves the text uncluttered by interspersed formulas. The introductory chapter in the first of these two books offers a brief but extremely useful orientation to the spectral and optical rotational methods that have proved so invduable in recent years for the determination of struoture and aonfiguration in the field of natural products. Acyclic and monocyclic monoterpenoids are then considered in the order of their increasing complexity. In the interests of clarity and pedagogical effectiveness, practically all of the more complicated and many of the simpler reactions me presented and illustrated from the vantage
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Journal o f Chemical Education
point of modern sterec-electronic theory. Guided in this manner, the uninitiated reader, for whom these texts are primarily intended, is far better equipped to understand and interpret factual aspeots of terpenoid chemistry than he would otherwise be. The discussion of the chemistry of the hicyclio monoterpenoids is especially enhanced by the emphasis placed on the sterio requirements of earhonium ion rearrangements in bridged ring systems. Sesquiterpenoids are logically grouped in terms of structural relationships to the cadalene, azulene, or other types of ring skeletons. The second of these two volumes deals first with the diterpenoids: resin acids and related substances, and 8. number of more complex representatives, such ss msrrubiin, oafestol, and columbin. Triterpenoids are then treated: squdene, ambrein, tetracyclic types, a- and p-amyrinlupeol groups, and miscellsncous classifications. In the final chapter biogenetie relationships, both demonstrated and speculative, are sketched out for all the various classes of terpenoids. Throughout these two texts the presentation reflects the author's intimate, first-hand knowledge of the subjects covered. Only topics of acknowledged importance are included, but these are well handled. For each structural derivation, all relevant information is carefully marshalled, so that the exposition is made as orderly and logical as possible. Hence, for those who wish to acquire, through a minimum of effort, a reasonably mature grasp of the contemporary view of both classical and modern terpenoid chemistry, these books are warmly recommended.
yet by no means superficially. The serious student will wish that references to the original literature had been cited. "Neutrons," "Bats," and "Earth" each include a short list of titles to similar works of a general nature. These three and "Magnets" also have short subject indexes. "Soap Bubbles" is without benefit of either.
Heterocyclic Chemistry: An Introduction
Adrien Albert, Australian National University, Canberra. Essential Books, Oxford University Press, Ine., New 424 pp. 26 figs. York, 1959. viii 21 tables. 15 X 22 cm. $9.
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Not many short texts covering the heterocyclic field are available, hut Albert's presentation differs decidely from any of them. Instead of the conventional nrrangement of 3-membered, &membered, 5-membered with oxygen, &membered with sulfur, 5-membered with nitrogen, preceding the Gmemhered heterocycles the present book attempts to correlate heterocyclic chemistry with organio chemistry generally by presenting suhjeot matter in this sequence: heteroparaffinics (as ethylene oxide, tetrahydrofuran, piperidine), rdeficient N-heteroaromatics (as pyridine, quinoline, aeridine, pteridine), =-excessive 0- and S-heteroaromt~tics(as furan, thiophene, thiazole, thiadiazole, sydnones), and heteroethylenics (as dihydropyran, pyrroline, pyrazoline, ehroman, snthocyanins). The reviewer has long maintained that a graduate course on heterocyclics is important not only for itself but AGBERTW. BURGSTAALER also as a means for reviewing much of aliphatic and aromatic chemistry. Dr. AlUniversity of Kansas bert has done an admirable job from this Lawmee point of view. An impressive feature of the hook is the attention paid to physical properties. Use of infrared and ultraviolet spectra for The Science Study Series. Volumes 1-5 help in appreciating heterocyclic rrtruotures Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden is developed in a special ohapter which conCity, New York, 1959. Available to tains 24 illustrative ultraviolet curves. secondary school students and teachers Another chapter is devoted to ionisation through Wesleyan University Press, constants and the implications of pK., Inc., Columbus, Ohio. Each volume, while still another chapter deals with axi155 pp. 11 X 18 cm. Paperbound. dation-reduct,ion potentials and dipole moEach, $0.95. ments. Some readers might argue that these matters are outside the scope of a These pocket books bring authoritative heterocyclio text, but the presentation a s treatments of topics in physics to students given does point conoiaely and usefully t o and the general public. All soienoe teachheterocyclic applications. Also, in this ers will find them valuable and instructive. way it becomes certain that the reader is It is most gratifying to find that eminent familiar with the inferences intended by physicists whose names are synonymous the author. with their subjects can write so well. The As the suthor states in the preface "more editors and publishers also know their emphasis is laid on the connection between business and have enhanced the offering structure and properties than on methods with simple, clear diagrams and figures of synthesis" and "more prominence has and an overall attractive format been given to parent substances than t o The first five titles in the series are: their highly substituted derivatives." The "The Neutron Story" by Donald J. book omits consideration of reaction Hughes; "Magnets-the Education of a mechanisms. Physicist" by Francis Bitter; "Soap The reviewer feels that the greatest Bubbles and the Forces Which Mould value of Albert's presentation is to stuThem" by C. V. Boys; "Echoes of Bats dents who are already somewhat familiar and Men" by Donald R. Griffin; and with the heterocvclie area. With a mod "How Old is the Earth" by Patrick M. command of syntheses, reactions, and arHurley. ganization of heterocyclic chemistry, a The books are essays on science ~ubjects (Continued on page A38) written in an almost conversational style,
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