book reviews IUPAC Secretariat, Bank Court Chambers, 213 Pound Way, Cawley Centre, Oxford OX4 3YF, England. The lowest cost source of nomenclature guidance is the reprint "Naming and Indexing of Substances for Chemical Abstracts for the Ninth Collective Period" available from Chemical Abstracts Service, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210. Due to computer and indexing requirements this reprint is generally more restrictive and in a few cases a t variance with IUPAC and even ACS Rules. Chemical Abstracts practice naturally has great influence on all nomenclature. Roy M. A d a m Geneva Coilege Beaver Fails. Pennsylvania 15010
Selected Organic Synthesis. A Guidebook lor Organic Chemists Ian Fleming, Pembroke College, Cambridge. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 10016. 1973. viii 227 pp. Figs. and tables. 15 x 22.5 cm. $10.50.
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Numerous obituaries attest to the death in 1964 of the famous creator of James Band, 007 and sexy detective sagas. The author (+-Ian Fleming?) of "Selected Or-
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ganic Syntheses" uses some of the dramatic platforms established by his deceased namesake: Band (C-C, C-H, C-0). double-7 (colchicine, four syntheses), sex (steroids, three syntheses), and slick detective work (structure af patchouli alcohol). Both authors manage to enrich their works with an aura of glamor and excitement. The hook is written in a clear, concise, scholarly fashion. Readers are led in easy stages from objectives and planning of synthetic projects through about 15 examples of work reported between 1845 and 1950. The approximately 30 syntheses which constitute the main part of the book appeared in the literature between 1950 and 1969. Each synthesis is outlined with structural formulas in transformation style, and numerous supplemental formulas are interspersed in the text to clarify interesting comments about mechanisms and related matters. The more recent syntheses include terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, antibiotics, coenzyme A, porphyrins, a peptide, [18]annulene, cyelabutadiene, adamantsnes, cyclopropanones, Cecropia juvenile hormone, and prostaglandins. Alternate methods that have heen used for synthesizing the same compound are often presented along with comments about relative merits. The chemists who planned the syntheses are duly recognized by name and their intellectual achievements are emphasized. The range of reactions illustrated is large and modem. The Index has been composed to simplify the task of searching for examples of particular reactions or reagents. References to original
literature are faithfully cited. An attractive course a t a n intermediate or advanced level could certainly be developed with this book as a nucleus. By pointing up the unifying reactions and theoretical concepts underlying a number of synthetic masterpieces, Dr. Fleming has converted an awesome amount of what might be regarded as intuitive genius into a comprehensible scheme. An appreciation is developed for the power and scope of synthetic organic chemistry. The utility as a text is enhanced by questions a t the end of each synthesis to test insight and guide further study. A substantial majority of today's students would probably prefer a course in synthesis to one in mechanisms or physical organic chemistry because of the more practical approach to the underlying subject matter. Pages 103-1Mi were omitted from the copy reviewed but craftmanship in production of the book was otherwise good. W. 8 . Renlrow Oberiin Coiiege Oberlin. Ohio 44074
