Quantum chemistry (Lowe, John P.) - ACS Publications

new edition than hitherto. As a textbook, the work is certainly suit- able for use in courses at the graduate and advanced undergraduate levels. Regre...
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book reviews new edition than hitherto. As a textbook, the work is certainly suitable for use in courses a t the graduate and advanced undergraduate levels. Regrettably though, it does not contain illustrative problems or exercises. Apart from this one inconvenience, the hook is an eminently readable account of theory and experiment associated with various types of cycloaddition and rearrangement reactions. With the timely inelusiun of recent developments in PMO theorv. the boak should continue to he ment of pericyelic reactions. Marjorle C. Carerlo University of California Iwine, CA 92717

lnorganlc Molecular Dissymetry

John P. Lowe, Pennsylvania State University, Academic Press, New York, 1979. iv599pp. Figs. and tables. 22.8 X 15.2cm. $19.50. This textbook of quantum chemistry focuses on the application of quantum mechanics t o questions of molecular structure, stability, reactivity, and other properties of chemical interest. It develops quantum mechanics from the beginning and rapidly moves into presentations of Hiickel molecular orbital theory, extended H k k e l Theory, SCF-LCAO-MO approaches, configuration interaction, and the application of these theories to the prediction of molecular properties. The use of group theory in exploiting molecular symmetry, correlation diagrams, and Woodward-Hoffmann rules are discussed. The material covered is oarrmdml) appn,pnsre fsr \tudrnti inkresled in the use of quantum meii;ion Except to point out that computer programs exist for their evaluation and that thenumber of integrals needed can be a problem, it does not deal at all with the evaluation of molecular integrals involving more than one center. Integral evaluation is the central problem of ah initia molecular orbital theories. Thus while the text deals with the question of basis set choice and the nature and use of ab initia results on a quite sophisticated level, it does not give insight into the mathematical struggle that yields the results. For most students who will use the book, however, this omission is relatively unimportant compared to what the" will learn. In addition to the main body of the text, the book has a series of appendices. Not only are there mathematical review topics,tables of integrals, additional proofs, and tahles of constants and conversion factors, but also there are flow charts for assigning molecules to point groups, a dictionary of HMO results (coefficients, electron densities, and band orders), group character tables, and computer program listings for simple Hiiekel theory and for finding eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for matrices (including overlap). The bnok will serve as areference book even after it has done its duty a s s student's text. ~

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Yoshihiko Saito, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1979. ix 167 pp. Figs. and tables. 24.5 X 17 em. $42.90.

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Stereochemistry of transition metal eomplexes is treated in this volume with an emphasis on the recent areas of advancement in the field. A brief outline of principles of X-ray and neutron diffraction are included. A reader would require a reasonably sophisticated background in mathematics to gain much usefulness from this chapter. A brief chapter on conformational analysis is a review for the reader preceding a discussion of structure and isomerism of optically active complexes-a comprehensive survey with complex euamples of the author's interest (which he admits in his preface). The chapter on electron densitv distribution in transition metal cc~mpl~xes pull+ tugcther inlurmntivn blot read).? available in iuchasumnmr~zrdform in a text. The final chapter discusses circular dichroism and again is mathematically somewhat sophisticated. The book includes numerous tables, diagrams, and figures, all of which are well done and most useful to the reader. Instead of numbers for reference notation, the author lists the cited authors' last names with the year of publication; more complex reference information is then found in the back of the book. This method of noting research work in a text such as this seems to be useful. This member of the "Inorganic Chemistry Concepts" series is a valuable addition to the library of transition metal inorganic chemists who are active in stereochemically oriented research projects or are teaching advanced undergraduate inorganic or graduate inorganic courses that include course material related ta inorganic stemhemistry. The text would have limited usefulness in an undergraduate library because of its somewhat sophisticated mathematical presentations; exceptions might include undergraduate institutions where transition metal research projects are undertaken. The text could be an excellent reference for graduate students enrolled in courses whieh include this material; consequently, graduate chemistry libraries would find this text a necessary addition. ~

Quantum Chemistry

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Donna Berglund Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology (JUE-Ady 1980) University of Wisconsin Madison. W153706

A348 1 Journal of Chemical Education

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For the reasons given above, Professor Lowe's "Quantum Chemistrv" is s welcome tion make it inappropriate as a primary text, it would be a worthwhile supplement. P. L. Goodfrlend University of Mine at Orono Orono.ME 04469

Introduction to Modern Liquid Chromatography

L. R. Snyder and J. J. Kirkland, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1979. xix863 pp. Figs. and tables. 24.5 X 16 cm. $29.50. Since the pul,licatirm uf the i m t edition in 1974, many important changrs and developments have occurred in the practical application of high performance liquid chramatography (HPLC). Among the many examples of progress in the field since then is the nearly complete solution of the ubiquitaus detector problem through the use of UVIvisible detectors operating down to 190 nm, the increased use of fluorescence and electrochemical detectors, plus off-line and on-line derivatization to further avoid detection problems. This new edition has been completely rewritten to incorporate these and other noteworthy advances in the field of HPLC. The book is organized into three parts. Cha~ters1+6 cover the baits of HPLC: bnsir I.unccptr, contn,l of separ~tiuns.rquipmrm. detrcum, rdumni, und jrolvunta In Chapteh 7-12 are d i w u r 4 the stx H1'I.C mrttwds and their applications, namely bnded-phase chromatography, liquid-liquid ehromatography, adsorption chromatography, ionexchange chromatography, ion-pair chromatoera~hv.and size-exclusion ehromatoe~~

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information required to perform actual separations and analyses. They also provide additional material for in-depth comprehension of how HPLC is carried out, what equipment is needed, and possible applieations. The last section of the book offers a thorough treatment of a number of specialized areas whieh are important far optimum results with HPLC. These areas include quantitative and qualitative analysis, pfeparative scale separations, gradient elutmn and column-switching, sample pretreatment and reaction detectors, automated systems far high-volume testing andlor samples reauirine oretreatment. trouble-shootinr and . sample art~fwtcwch as hand-tailind. and reltrtmg and dcveluping HPIS' mrth