book reviews Twenty-six problems are given which involve the most complex nmr spectra in the book. For most of these, however, the reader is given the structure and asked to explain the spectrum. Chapter 5 covers ultraviolet spectroscopy in somewhat more detail (40 pages) than usual for a text of this sort. Roughly half of the chapter is theory, in terms of energy diagrams and orbital pictures, and half is empirical rules for structure-spectra correlations. Chapter 6 is a fairly standard mass spectrometry chapter following the pattern in the previous chapters with about 45 pages devoted to fragmentation patterns for common structural units. Both of these chapters are followed by the usual number of problems. Chapter 7 consists entirely of the usual spectral problems in which ir, nmr, ms, and sometimes uv data are given. Thecompounds are almost all structurally simple, and the problems would not be sufficiently challeneine a t the maduate level: however. the " book does prepare the student t o work more challenging problems. Robert D. Guthrie univer-sityof Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506
Guide for the Perplexed Organic Experhentalist
H. J. E. Loewenthal, Heyden & Sons, Inc.
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Philadelphia, 1978. v 174 pp. Figs. and tables. 20 X 13 cm. $9.60. The transition from student to researcher can be fraught with mistakes, missteps, and misfortunes. In many instances, the difficulty nf the transition is dependent on a student's background and on the availability of a person who knows how to direct the student's efforts and who will to take the time toguide the novice researcher. As stated in the preface, the goal of this little o a.~ e r b a c kis to ease this transition bv "filllmg1 ilmr of trwgaps." I t ie intended lc,r pmlple wch ai the fir;[ year graduate vtudrnt or the advanced undergraudate just heginning to work in a research program. I t is a collection of pointers and prejudices (and a few peeves) whieh the author has gleaned from years of doing research. The laboratory operations and apparatus described are ones which facilitate research but are not found in laboratory manuals. Interspersed with these are numerous handy tidbits such as how to clean a TeflonD stir bar whieh has been blackened by alkali metal in liquid ammonia or how to package samples to send to friends and colleagues. The first chapter, "On Searching the Literature," is probably the best section of the book. It provides thumbnailsketchesaf most of the useful organic chemistry reference works and offers suggestions on how to find the specific information desired. The suggestions on how to conduct a literature search and how to organize the information could benefit any beginning graduate student. The second and third chapters, "On Carrying Out Small-scale Reactions" and
"On lsolatingand Purifying the Product," are a ootoourri of tios on laboratow techniaues. 'I'lle applicability of many of the suggerrlons i- depmdent on the student's sltunrmn, hut the rntimnle hehind the suggextimx i i rcle. "ant to some degree in any organic research program. The most unique sections of this chapter are the ones on Kugelrohr distillation and on the preparation of analytical samples, topics not found in most laboratory manuals. The chapter m safety, Chapter Four, is only three pages long and briefly outlinrcth~ hniic, m m m m sense admonitions regarding safe conduct in the lnhoralory. Chapter Five. "On Catnlstlr llvdn~cenatitm."descrilrt, a useful hydrogen&ankask and offers some general comments about catalytic hydrogenation a t atmospheric and medium pressure. These comments are intended to supplement detailed procedures in other books whieh are referenced by the author. Chapter Seven presents four experimental procedures from the author's laboratory. The procedures serve as examples of many ofthe techniques mentioned in the book and are also useful as examples of how to write concise, yet detailed experimental procedures. Chapter Eight describes several unique and useful pieces of apparatus and techniques, many collected from research laboratories other than the author's. The last chapter offers guidance on ordering chemicals and what t o expect when the order arrives and on bottling and storing chemicals. At the end of the book. there is a l ~ 111 t 75 references I
