BOOK REVIEWS industrial and biochemical aspects are made an interesting part of the unfolding of thesuhject. Some idea of the contents of the text may he obtained from a resume of the sequence of chapters and certain highlights. In the first chapter structural aspects of organic compounds are introdnced with treatment of the spa character of tetrahedrally bound carbon and conformation of open chain compounds. Emphasis on nt,ntoture is continued in chapter 2 with the study of the conformation of ring compounds and geometric isomerism. The subject of each chapter is developed rapidly and discussed in a deliberate fashion. In the first five chapters, alkanes through aromatic hydrocarbons, six of the nine topics on reaction mechanism are covered. The topics of the next several chapters are alcohols, phenols, ethers, then only one-third of the way through the text, configurational isomerism is introduced, followed b y alkyl halides, then amines. Finally, the chemistry of aldehydes and ketones completes the sequence stressing manofunctional compounds. The groundwork
then turn to carbhydretes and insert chapt,ers on carbaxylic acids and enolate anion reactions before the chapter on proteins. One advantage of this order of presentation is that the student is thus afforded some relief from the complexit,ies of sugars and the development of macromolecular concepts on carbohydrates and proteins. The hook closes on a. sequence of three chapters, the first two of these provide a straightforward current treatment of biochemical reactions, metabolism, and biosynthesis. These chapters are designed well and should enhance the students' feeling that the study of organic chemistry is both meaningful and important. The concluding chapter on color and dyes is made to fit quite naturally into the overall framework of the text. Explanation and development of nomenclature in a given chapter is often brief. To complement this introduction reference is made to an appendix entitled "Self-correcting Study Guide for IUPAC Nomenclatore." The guide consists of instructive nomenclrtture prablems on one page followed by the answers on the reverse side. This orgltniastion contribotes to speeding the development of the chemistry in the chapter. There are approximately twenty-five figures in each chapter. This is, on the average, better than one figure per page. The figures are well cross-referenced and each is effectively and efficiently worked into the main text. Optimistically, it may be said that the completeness of the captions on the figures, their pointedness, and their t o t d coverage of the subject suggests they may he used as an important aid in making extensive and succinct weekly reviews. Problems and questions fall into two categories; sets of problems a t the end
A138 / Journal of Chemical Educofion
of each chapter and numerous questions integrated into the substance of each chapter. The integrated set of questions should induce the student to extract important information in the process of reading and studying. The questions and problems on the whole require more than the recall of simple facts; throughout the text the questions extend and develop the ideas expressed in eaoh phase of the subject. The questions will not only be challenging to many students but helpful in stimulating classroom discussion. This text is not supercharged with mechanism; the nine mechanisms covered range from reasonably hrief and pertinent discussions, e.g., electraphilic aromatic substitution to the cursory mention of an intermediate in esterification. The mechanism of enolate anion reactions discussed in chapter 12 is unfortunately lacking in the good coherence otherwise demonstrated throughout the book. Except for this deficiency, mechanisms are treated adequately for the intended student audience. As s whole, the text is remarkably free of errors. A t,ypographical error occurs in Fig. 12-13 p. 232 where diethyl carbonate should have a red carbonyl group to be consistent with the other equations; similarly, the carhoxyl group in Fig. 12-11 p. 231. The words "in cellohiose" should be omitted in the laat sentence on page 185. The schematic of glycogen on p. 19'2 is amisrepresentation in that the unit shows no branching. Erroneously glycogen is stated to resemble amylose rather than amylopection on p. 193. A gla"ng error occurs in Fig. 9-13 p. 164 where obviously the parts (a) and ( b ) of the captions should he interchanged. Unfortunately there is no definition of the wedged-shaped bonds in the figures on pages 35, 96, and 178; however obvious the meaning may appear, it may not he so to a student. I t is recognized that for a short course in organic chemistry much of the material must be abbreviated end contents somewhat arbitrarily chosen, however, the authors' treatment of a number of important topics is much too brief, especially for example, the Fischer projection formula page 178, and elimination reactions p. 128. Omission of other material, e.g., discussion of uses of halides, p. 132, would have provided space for expansion of an important topic such as elimination reactions. The treatment of nomenclature in the chapters leaves much to be desired although the supplementary appendix is helpful and a good idea. This book will provide very good support for a short course in organic chemistry, psrticularly where it is desirable to place less emphasis an mechanisms and involved types of syntheses than on other aspects of organic chemistry. The novelty of the text resides for the most pzrt on the strong biochemical orientation, on the unusually goad correspondence between the textual subjects and the diagrams, and on the substitution of a s ~ e c i a l question type of appendix t o support the text treatment of nomenclature.
M. BENTONNAPF Nationd Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
Organic Chemistry of Synthetic High Polymers
Robert W. L a z , University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with contributions by Darrell C . Feay and Nathaniel S. Schneide~. Interscience Publishers ( a division of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), 837 New York, March, 1967. xvi pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $15.
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The title of this hook is somewhat misleading because it is the chemistry of the polymerisation process, rather than that of the resulting polymer itself, that comprises the major portion of the text. Within this context Professor Lena provides a comprehensive survey of the entire field of synthetic organic polymers. The focus of the survey is the mechanism of the polymerization process with particular attention to the stringent restrictions imposed if a high molecular weight polymer of known structure is to he obtained. I n the first of two introductory chapters, Professor Lenz suggests the terminology "stepgrowth" and "chain-growth" to distinguish what is generally called "condensation" and "addition." Flory long ago proposed that the distinguishing feature of 8. polymerization should he the polymerization kinetics rather than the stoichiametry of the polymer structure; this suggestion has heen accepted and it seems to me that the introduction of mother terminology adds little to our understanding and may lead to confusion. The second chapter (contributed by N. S. Schneider) is an overview of structureproperty relations. References to standard texts endreviews are orovided to sum mer chemistry. The next six chapters treat stepgrowth (condensation) polymerization. There is a detailed discussion of virtually every specific polymer encompassed within the chapter headings; references to the original literature-including patents-are extraordinarily complete. This portion of the subject lends itself well t o a d i r cossion based on traditional organic chemistry and here the hook reads much like an organic text. The third main section of the text., six chapters, treats homogeneous chain-growth (addition) polymerization. Included here after a. general introduction is a discussion of arganio free radirals followed by detailed expositions of radical, anionic, and cationic palymeriastion. Both in its length (more than 300 pages) and the number of references (1118!) this portion of the book properly reflects the large amount of research and interest in these fields. The treatment is encyclopedic. The next major section deals with heterogeneous chain-growth polymeriaation-probably the most fascinating and least well understood aspect of polymerization chemistry. The major unsolved problems here are those of heterogeneous catalysis involving metall~organics, and the text shifts from traditional arganio chemistry t o emphasize the physical-inorganic aspects. This is all to the good. The artificial boundaries between the (Continued on page AI4Z)
BOOK REVIEWS
polymer ehemiatry, as this section of the book so aptly illustrates. Again, the treatment is very comprehensive with many opto-date reference%. The last section treats polymer reactions. Here Professor Lene discusses such topics as cross-linking, grafting, derived polymers, and various types of polymer degradations. It. seems to me that this book will appeal to t.wo quite different types of readers. First, for teachers of organic chemistry it provides a wide variety of examples to illustrate the application of bssic organic chemistry to polymer chemistry. Such examples will not only broaden the background of the students but it may, as Professor Len. hopes, attract some of them t o polymer chemistry as a challenging field of specialization. Second, the book is a n excellent reference work for polymer chemists. The extreme thoroughness of the coverage, the vast number of referencm-many of them datingfrom 1964 and 1963, and the comprehensive author and subject indexes makes this book a valuable addition to any chemistry library. The almost overwhelming attention to details may serve to detract from the book's applicability as a special topics textbook, but students should certainly be aware
A 14z
I Journal o t Chemlcal Education
that this fine addition to the literature of polymer-chemistry exists.
seems to be to ~ r o v i d eas extensive a coverage of the subject as practical. I n this respect this efFort stands in conWALTERDANNHAUSER trast to two-other recent monographs on State liniuersily of New York this topic-those of Conway and Delahay. Professor Conway's contribution is in a series where the author's special interest? constitote the feature of t,he work. Prufcwoor Delahay states at the outset that he chooses to delete consideration of crystallisat,ion overvoltage, anodic films, and Electrochemical Kineticr,Theoretiral a n d other possible topics. Professor Vetter's Experimental Aspects work is more encyclopedic than either of Klaus J . Vetter, Institute of Physical these. Chemistry, Free Univ. of Berlin. This work begins with a discussion of Trrtnslated by Scripts. Technics, Inc. electrochemical thermodynamics. I n this Academic Press, New Yark, May 1967. section the sign conventions used in the xv 789 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X remainder of the hook are stated. Anodio 23.5 em. $36. currents are taken as positive. This is the opposite of what i5 usually assumed these The publication of a. monograph by an days and is an annoyance. author who has made significant contribuThe first half of the work is completed tions to the subject is always an event of by an extensive treatment of the theory of interest. Monographs of recent vintage electrode kineties. The treatment is aron the subject of electrochemicd kinetics ranged by type of overvoltagecharge are not abundant. That factor done is transfer, diffusion, reaebion, crystallisaalmost enough to make this one welcome. tion, total and resistance polarization. The German language edition of this The last half of the book contains brief work was published in 1961. Professor sections on mixed potentials and corrosion Vetter writes in the preface to this edition and metal passivity. There is a somewhat that be has made minor changes in the longer section concerned with methods light of comments received a b u t the which can be used to elucidate mechaearlier edition and that he has expanded nisms. While mention is made of some the text. R h r e detailed diserssions of types of equipment in this section, it is same topics were provided (of crystallinanot a rudimentary laboratory manual. tion over-voltage for example), and some Rather its concern is with how in principle new topics were included (famdaic rectifito determine types of overvoltage using cation and nonstaichiometric surface eompounds for example). Thus, the intention (Conlint~edm page A1461
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