Books
Physical Basis of NMR Spectra Proton and Carbon-13 NMR Spectros copy: An Integrated Approach. R. J. Abraham and P. Loftus. xiii + 230 pages. Heyden & Son Inc., 247 S. 41st St., Philadelphia, Pa.19104.1978. $13.50 Reviewed by Robert J. Highet, NIH, National Heart, Lung and Blood In stitute, Bethesda, Md. 20014 T h e current proliferation of Fourier transform N M R spectrometers has the happy consequence that organic and analytical chemists can expect to use both proton and carbon-13 N M R spectra in the characterization of or ganic compounds and the analysis of mixtures. It follows that students of chemistry must acquire a working knowledge of both types of spectra and of the instruments that produce them. T h e book addresses this prob lem and does it very well. Within 200 pages of text the au thors provide a lucid account of the physical basis of N M R spectra, their interpretation, and the instruments used. Although mathematical deriva tions are limited to the most funda mental relations, the concise presenta tion does not sacrifice accurate state ment. Chemical shift and spin-spin properties of both proton and carbon13 nuclei are treated simultaneously or, where appropriate, alternately. There is a brief but valuable descrip tion of sample handling, and in a chapter comprising only a tenth of the text, there is a description of the prin ciples and problems of Fourier trans form spectrometers. T h e difficulties encountered in quantitative analysis and such advanced techniques as dou ble-resonance experiments, lanthanide shift reagents and spin-lattice re laxation measurements are briefly treated, followed by a stimulating chapter on applications of NMR spec tra. A set of 25 elementary problems and a somewhat scanty index com plete the book. It is difficult to fault the choice of subjects in a work that has so success fully achieved a concise presentation. Perhaps homonuclear Overhauser ef fects and the use of zero-filling might have been mentioned. More frequent reference to original publications would have been welcome, but the sec ondary sources listed after each chap ter provide the guide necessary. It is
indeed a pleasure to read a work al most totally free of typographical er rors. T h e work can be enthusiastically recommended to beginners in NMR. Laboratory Handbook of Paper and Thin-Layer Chromatography. J. Gasparic and J. Churacek. 362 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1978. $42.50
laboratory handbook of PAPER and THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY J. Gasparič
J. Churáček
Reviewed by Robert L. Clements, USDA SEA AR, Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory, Ohio Agricultural R&D Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691 For many of us who have come to depend on TLC, paper chromatogra phy seems little more than a nostalgic reminder of the past. However, paper chromatography is alive and well and is sometimes a method of necessity, if not of choice. T h e two methods have much in common, and it is logical to consider them together. T h e authors, however, have undertaken a tremen dous task in attempting to distill the vast literature into this small volume. Obviously, they have had to be highly selective, and therefore intimately fa miliar with the field. This book differs from most similar monographs in that it is not oriented toward biochemistry, b u t rather ap proaches the subject in terms of basic organic chemistry (although the au thors outline typical methods for iso lating specific classes of biological ma terials). T h e first part ("Principles") is an excellent summation of pre vailing tools and techniques. It also in cludes a section on the relation of chromatographic behavior to chemical structure. "Applications" (234 pages) is tightly organized into 26 classes of compounds, many of which are divid ed into subheadings (e.g., TV-heterocy clic compounds are broken down into 11 types). This organization is aug mented by an extensive subject index and a separate index of compounds chromatographed (about 2000 entries). An Appendix lists 88 detect ing agents, keyed to the text by num ber. Unfortunately, the list gives for mulations only, but the text can be consulted via the index to determine uses and specificities. Additional de tecting agents are noted in the text. Useful derivatives and their prepara tions are also discussed. Wherever
possible, the authors relate migration behavior to chemical structure, and stress conditions that are "the result of logical considerations based on knowledge of the substance chromatographed and the chromatographic process." This approach should appeal to the synthetic organic chemist and others who may be confronted with unique separation and isolation prob lems. T h e book includes many specific hints and precautions, all too often learned only through experience. A breakdown of the 362 pages shows about 75 pages of tables (mainly Rf values) and 35 pages of references (about half of which appear to be in English). Most citations are pre-1970, although references as recent as 1977 were noted. T h e text is minimal and very concise and unambiguous. T h e translation seems excellent, although occasional awkward phrases and "un usual" words (e.g., involatile) appear. It is not easy to criticize this book, but if a fault must be found, it is the necessarily selective nature of the ref erences. T h e experienced chromatographer will undoubtedly find favorite innovations and reviews missing. Above all, the book is a "Laboratory Handbook", conceived as a convenient reference and guide for the bench chemist. It should be useful to the or-
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 51, NO. 3, MARCH 1979 · 399 A
