BOOK REVIEWS nossihlv ask. documents it thorouehlv There is not space here to discuss each of the other papers individually. They vary widely, however, in the amount of detail which they give, so that some of the papers (Buediig and Farber, Allen) would he worthwhile reading as a brief introduction for those not familar with the field, whereas others (Huennekens and Whiteley) could aerve as critical summaries, of interest even to specia.lirts. Despite the generally high quslity, the volume has many flaws which are attributable to deficient editing. I t seems to this reviewer that the editors should take the responsibility not only for solicit ing contributions, hut also for making sure that the papers are written clearly and in good English, and for seeing that everything neceaaary far easy compre hension is included. For example, the guide to nomenclature and classificationan excellent idea-fails to include many of the taxonomic groups to which repeated reference is made by the various authors; if the scheme were just a little more detailed it would be several times ss useful. The excellent article by Cantoni contains long tables of structural formulas of onium compounds, without the names, and a text full of names without formulas. These instances could he multiplied many times; the reviewer did not find a single paper which would not have been improved by careful editing.
PETEROESPER Hahnemann Medical College Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Organic Syntheses.
Volume 40
Edited by Meluin S. Newmn, Ohio State University, Columbus. John Wiley & Sons, Ine., New York, 1960. vii 114 pages. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $4.
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This addition to the series maintains the high standards set by previous volumes. The volume contains 39 syntheses, the less familiar of which are a. benzyne synthesis and a free radical coupling of an aliphatic radical. The products run the gamut of organic compounds, from aliphatic and zromatio hydrocarbons to heterocyclics to several ferrocene derivatives. The usual care in listing dangers and precautions has been taken. The notes on the reactions are extensive, even to the point of naming the type of stirring motor required for efficient stimiig. A new feature, point 4 under several of the syntheses, is the listing of uses of the products. The r e viewer finds this additional information valuable. While most of the syntheses were submitted by American chemists, a few came from overseas.
J o n ~D. REINHE~MER College qf Woosler Wwsler, Ohio
A444
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Journal o f Chemical Education
