real world of
edited by
W. C. FERNELIUS Kent State University. Kent OH 44242
HAROLD WITTCOFF
Treatment of Industrial Organic Chemistry in Current Textbooks Kenneth
E. Kolb
Bradley University. Peoria. IL 61625
Doris K. K o l b Illinois Central College. East Peoria. IL 61635 Our interest in industrial organic chemistry goes hack b a n wganic class taught h y Professor M e l v i n S. Newman. H e a l ways emphasized t h a t there are certain organic compounds t h a t are readily available and inexpet~sive(hecause they are made i n cnmmercial quantit.ies) and that these easily ohtainahle industrial organics should a t least he considered when one is t r y i n g t o work out a new synthesis. M o s t organic texthook writers have n o t shared Professor Newman's ntt.itude toward industrial chemistry. Many include in their hooks very few commercial processes, and those that are given are often o u t o f date. T h e specific impetus t o survey some current organic texthooks w i t h regard t o their treatment of industrial NSF organic chemistry came from Dr. Harold Wittcoff, w h c ~ e Chatauqua course on Industrial Organic Chemistry we had the good fortune t o attend. Survey Results Twelve organic textbooks, a l l large comprehensive volumes designed for the first-year organic course for science majors. were the basis for this survey. Twenty industrial organic chemicals and processes, listed in the table, were chosen for examination in these texts. Although the list is a n arhitrary one, it does include the major organic chemicals made commercially and some of the most important industrial organic processes. T h e coverage o f each toptc was rated (Table 1) using the following r a t i n g system: 5 Topic is well covered
4 Topic is pretty well mvered, but something is mising or inaccurate R Topic is discussed, but information is inadequate or oul oldate 2 Topic is mentioned, hut coverage is ~ ( H B I 1 Mention of topic i s minimal O Topic is not mentioned at all O u r rating tended t o he generous, erring mainly o n the h i g h side. T h e results. summarized in Table 1, show t h a t one text out o f 100, many rated around 60,and onescnred only rated 25. I t should IKnoted that the text with the highest rating has a separate long c h a p k r o n industrial organic chemistry a1 the end o f the book, so t h a t the information is presented almost as a n appendix. T h i s final chapter m i g h t likely heomitted b y instructors using the hook. It would seem that this industrial information would he more u d u l i f i t were integrated into the m a i n fabric o f the course. Speclflc Toplc Coverage T h e 20 organic processes and compounds t h a t were considered in this survey are arranged below in order of hest t o
Comparison 01 Industrial Topics as Treated In Modem Organic T e r n s Tern Coverage (Scaie: 0-51 Topic
A B C D E F G H I
ABS Detergents Acetaldehyde Acetic Acid Acetylene Acqloni1riIe Adipic Acid BBnzene (Catalytic Reforming) Benroyi Peroxide Ethylene (Cracking) Ethylene OxMe ROC~SS Fischer-Trop~ch Methanol Neoprene" om Proceu(&drofamytatian) Phenol SBR Synmetic Rubbar Teflon" Urea Vinyl Chlaide ZieglerNattaPolymarlration
Tats
5 5 5 3 5 5 3 2 4 5 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 5 5
2 3 2 2 2 3 1 5 2 5 0 5 5 0 5 5 4 1 5 5
1 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 1 2 0
3 5 5 2 2 2 0 5 1 4 0 0 3 5 5 0 3 2 3 5
1 2 2 0 0 3 0 5 1 1 5 2 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 5
5 2 3 5 1 1 5 1 5 5 0 2 4 0 5 5 0 5 5 5
1 4 2 5 0 0 1 5 4 4 5 1 5 5 5 5 4 1 3 4
1 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 0 3 0 0 1
3 4 2 0 0 4 5 5 1 4 5 5 4 5 5 4 5 0 4 3
J K L 5 3 2 5 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 4 1 2 5
3 3 2 5 5 5 3 3 4 5 0 5 5 0 5 5 3 1 3 3
5 3 2 5 0 0 0 5 0 3 0 3 5 0 5 4 4 0 3 1
84 62 25 55 33 64 64 30 68 36 68 48 W. Conard F-llus received his BA (19251. MA H926). and PhD (1928) horn Stanford University. He has been MI faculties ot the Ohio State University (1928-42). Purdw University (1942-43: 1946-47). Syracuse University (1947-491. Pennsylvania State University (1949-601. and Unlversily of Smih Flaida (1970-75). At Syracuse and Penn Stale, h.Femeliur was depanment head and at Sauth Flaida. He has been A& Distinguiohed Role-. junct Ratesurr at Kent State Universily since 1975. Dwina the wwiod 1943-46.
Company at Monrceville. PA. As a teacher. Fernelius has t a w w s e s In alsmemary bnnlsby. advanced inorganic. radiodurmirhy, histay 01chemisby, aM chemical lit~(sIwe.He is COBUthOr 01 Several IextbMks. Hi. research has been lATgaly m iomg~niccnemishy and nocldes m q urlusnll. rue e emenlr. rad ocham rtry. caxd naloon compounds. and chemlwl Mt menclature n !ha covrs 01 hos research, he has publlohed a numm of reviews of several fields of bemishy. He has w e d as a mnsunant to indushy. government. and academia.
Volume 56
Number 7
July 1981
557
poorest coverage. T h e numher in parentheses following each topic is a measure of h o w well t h a t topic was covered i n t h e books examined w i t h (fiO) heing the m a x i m u m possible.
Phrnol 1501 Made by hydrolytic cleavage of rumene hydroperoxide. E t h y l r n ~Oxide (451: Made by direct oxidation of ethylene i n the presence of a silver calalyst. Zirtlrr-Nntto I'ol?rnerirnlivn 142): Process for stereoregular polymerization of olefins using a complex solid "catalys1"such as TiCls with IC2H51:,AI. Henz
