reviews Experimental
Organic Chemistry: A Miniscale Approach
Royston M. Roberts. John C. Gilbert, and Stephen F: Martin, Saunders College Publishing: New York, NY, 1994. xxvi + 801 pp. Figs. and tables. 21.2 x 26.2 cm. Although the title and preface do not so indicate, this text is a revised edition of Modern Experimental Organic Chemistry by R. M. Roberts, J. C. Gilbert, L. B. Rodewald, and A. S. Wingrove, the fourth edition of which was published in 1985. Much of the text and many of the figures are the same. The book is more attractive, with a slightly larger format and a second calm (blue) is used throughout to highlight and brighten up the pages. Comparison of the tables of contents reveals very few changes in the chapter titles and experiments included. The chapter Amino Acids and Peptides has been deleted. The predominant word in the title is "miniscale". Obviously, this is meant to suggest a compromise between classical and microscale, although in practice, it is closer to the former. The table gives a comparison of the miniscale text with the earlier fourth edition and with the macroscale version of Pavia et al. ( I ) . It can be seen that the quantities are considerably reduced from the fourth edition but are comparable to Pavia et al. and still much greater than the typical 50-200 mg used in micrascale. The text is organized into two sections, with techniques and
Each experiment is preceded by a "Safety Alert" and followed hy "Finishing Touches" (disposal,and exercises. The expenmenta are organized and thechapters ore entitled based on organic reactions and functional gmups. In contrast, the Pavia text is organized by applications (ex., flavors, detergents, dyes, drugs). A similar assortment of reactions is included in both texts. In summary, this text contains a goad assortment of experiments with a m ~ l ediscussion of theorv and teehniaues. One should not he mihed by the title-this i s a m a c r o s ~ a l e ~ ~ ~ r o a c h . It should be considered by those who prefer the classical organic laboratory. Literature Cited 1. Pavia, D.L.; Lampman, 0. M.; k z . 0.S. Inlmduetion to Ogonie Lobomtory W h nipuos. A ConlempororyAppmoeh, 3rd ed. Saunderr: Philadelphia. 1988.
Ronald D. McKelvey Universtiv of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse. WI 54601
Second Edition John C. Stowell. Wiley: New York, NY, 1994. xv + 334 pp. Figs.
Intermediate Organic Chemistry, and tables. 16.3 x 24.3 cm. $49.95.
Comparison of Quantities Used in Experiments of Three Textbooks Experiment
Miniscale
4th Edition
Pavia et al.
Grignard
3.9 g of PhBr
18.8 g of PhBr 5.22 g of PhBr
Diels Alder
1.5 g of Maleic 6.0 g of Maleic 0.75 g of AnthranilicAcid Anhydride Anhydride
Acetanilide
3.7 g of Aniline 20.5 g of Aniline
NaBH4 Reduction
0.6 g of Fluorenone
2.0 g of Aniline
12.09 of AcPh 0.4 g of Camphor
spectroscopy a t the beginning followed by the experiments. There is a strong emphasis on spectroscopy, with a 90-page chapter in the first section. Infrared, proton NMR, and C-13 NMR spectra are given for most starting materials and products. Occasionally W spectra are included. A total of 401 spectra are listed in the table of contents. C-13 NMR's are generally tabulated data without multiplicities. Proton NMR's are generally a t 60 or 90 MHz, which may soon be obsolete. Unfortunately, many IR spectra are linear in microns.
As its title suggests, this hook (an update of a previous edition) is desimed for the student who has alreadv camdeted a stsndard two-semester introductory organic chemistry course but is not yet fully equipped to operate in the "real" specific case-oriented world of the oraetieine .. areanic .. chemist. Most of the oroblems resented at the end* uf each oithe 10 chapters been with tvplrally gsthwed rnw darn and requiw the student to solve a prohlrm from the beginnmg rather than from a half-hlshed retup. The topics selected in this compact 334-page book are a well-chosen broad spect r u m including nomenclature, searching t h e Literature, stereoehemistry, functional group transformation, carhon-carbon bond formation, planning multistep syntheses, mechanisms and predictions, electron delocalization, physical influences on reactions, and the internretation of NMR soectra. While the exnlanatiansof the various topics are brief, well organized, to the paint and clear, making ample use of appropriate examples and always assuming a working knowledge of the basic ideas, the main benefit will be eained throueh consultine the literature references cried and wmklng through the rptc~fieprablemr e v e n . In my upmion, these exerruses would be very helpful tu a student who wishes to undertake research with its necessity to search literature including the new computerized data bases, read current journals with understanding, design proper experiments, and analyze and explain the results.
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Reviewed in T h i s Issue Royston M. Roberts, John C. Gilbert, and Stephen F. Martin, Experimental Organic Chemistry: A Miniscale Approach J o h n C.Stowell, Intermediate Organic Chemistrty, Second Edition Henry Freiser, Concepts and Calculations in Analytical Chemistry: A Spreadsheet Approach Anthony S . Travis, The Rainbow Makers: The Origin of the Synthetic Dyestuffs Industry in Western Europe Textbook Announcements Monographs New Volumes in Continuing Series
Reviewer Ronald D.
McKelvey
A37
Peter R. Adams Daniel Y. Pharr
A37 A41
George 6. Kauffman
A41
Volume 72
A41 A42 A42
Number 2
February 1995
A37
