B O O K REVIEWS on the properties of nuclear vibrational states, which are currently the subject of intense investigation, should have been given. The chapter an statistics, although rigorous, is somewhat disorganized and contains little information on tests for goodness-of-fit. There is no discussion of least-squares fitting techniques, although they are widely used for resolution of complex decay curves. Calculations of nuclear energetics are done in terms of atomic mass units instead of the more convenient mass excesses. The book is remarkably free of errors, the most serious of which concern delayedneutron emitters. The authors incorrectly state that there itre six delayed-neutron emitters (rather then roughly six half-life groupings) among the fission products. The bet%decaying parent nuclide is erroneously aalled the delayed-neutron emiller instead of precursor. Furthermore, the authors imply that the ground states of the daughter nuclides are unstable with respect to neutron emission. The problem sets are excellent, with most requiring considerable judgment, and are intended as s n integral part of m y course which uses the book. The appendices contain an abundance of useful data on masses, decay properties, and cross sections for thermal-neutron reactions. In spite of minor deficiencies, "Nuclear
A54 / Journal o f Chemical Education
and Radiochemistry" is a welcome improvement over everything in its field.
Reproduced, in translation, are the text and the experimental sections far approximately 175 papers by Nesmeyanov, GLENE. GORDON derived from the original literature. Massachusetts Instilule of Teehnalagy Ninety-eight papers treat "organometallic Cambridge chemistry"; 33 treat "elemento-organic compounds"; and 38 treat "investigatiom in organic chemistry." Selected Wnrks in Organic Chemistry Despite the risk of heing judged unscientific, I submit that this antho1og.v is A. N. Nesmeyanov, U.S.S.R. Academy fun to read. First, one is faced with a of Sciences. Translated by Auraham progression of history: papers were subB i n a and Z. S. Cole. Macmillan Cu. mitted from the F i a t Government Uni(a Pergamon Press book), New York, versity, Moscow (1929); Institute of 1963. xvi 1172 pp. Figs. and taPlant Protection of the Peoples Health bles. 18 X 24.5 em. $30.00. Commissary (1929); Moscow State UniIf m y example of the catholic nature of vemity (1933), Laboratory of Organic business is needed in the present age, the Chemistry, NIIUIF (1934); Institute of fact of an anthology of Russian chemOrgano-Element Compounds, USSR Acadistry, translated into English by a n Engemy of Sciences (1957). lish h m , printed in Israel, and distributed Second, one realizes the inadequacy that to us by an American firm, can be cited. most of us possess relative to our field, in Pursuit of the text leaves a t least one that we rely on the abstractors for CA to reader with the impression that chemistry serve as our window to Russian chemistry. is somewhst more provincial. The clarity and nature of the experimental The volume in question is an abridged sections of this collection m&e one feel (sie) form of the complete works of A. N. that we are receiving a distorted view of Nesmeyanov, covering the permd from Russian chemistry through abstracts. 1929 t o 1959. The original Russian verThird, aside from the historical pmgress sion, published on the 60th anniversary of of one man, there is a view of the progress the author, required four volumes. I n of an idea-ne can follow the struggle of sifting these to produce the present Engscience and doctrine related to resonance lish text, most reviews and those artlcles dealine with the administration of scienre
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Finally, and perhaps mast important, nately been deleted.
(Continued a page A58)
BOOK R E V I E W S the volume offers access to Russian work that has previously been available only to those with translation services. It gives one rather a start to read, in a translation of an article written in 1948, of a reaction you were proud to be the pioneer in just last week, or to find in the text of a 1941 paper the malysis and experimental testing of a literature misconception that did not become straightened out in the English literature until 1962. The latter is the problem of the existence of 8. ketone. RMgX complex that is isolable. The experimental observations of Meisenheimer (1921) and Pfeiffer and Blank (1939) were interpreted by them as proof for the complex, and t h a t excess RMgX was necessary to produce carhinol product. Nesmeysnov saw the error and tested it, and reported a n the problem in 1941-but it wits Beeker in 1963 who finally corrected the Western World's view with a page long footnote. For those interested in organomercury, thallium, lead, and iron chemistry, access to the book is very important. A similar comment fits those interested in halonium ion chemistry. The libraries of these laboratories should have a copy. It seems t o fit into the status of a reference book better than t h a t of an addition to a personal library. Since it is fun to read, and leaves one with more research ideas than time to accomplish, having i t on re-
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Journal of Chemical Mucotion
serve will a t least insure its location; our copy tends to wander off for weeks a t a. time. The deficiencies in the volume are, of course, t h s t it represents a reprinting of the literature, and in many ceses one will find, as is quite typical of the Russian literature and increasingly so of oura, the tendency for two articles published at different times in different journals to look surprisingly similar, even to footnote numbering. The large number of pages makes up for this duplication. ~
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University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
The Theory of the Electronic Spectra of Organic Molecules
J. N. Munell, University af Sheffield, England. John Wiley and Sans, Inc., New York, 1963. xiv 328 pp. Figs. and tables. 15 X 22 om. $10.
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It is only rarely that a reviewer e m react completely enthusiastically with respect to a. volume in an advanced area. Such is certainly the present case. Dr. Murrell has been able to put together an authoritative, concise, and valuable review of the area covered by the title. In the preface, he aims the book "for those doing experimental and theoretical research on the electronic spectra of organic molecules." The hook is indeed aimed a t the research level, hut
able without in the least sacrificing the important and oritioal d c t d The first three chapters, An Introduction to the Theory of Light Absorption, Molecular Wave Functions, and ValenceBand and Molecular Orbital Theories, lay the ground-work and notation used in a brief but clear manner. The interpretation used throughout is largely based on molecular orbital theory. Then follow chapters on ethylene and acetylene, eonjugated hydrocarbon chains, bensenoid hydrocarbons, and weakly interacting ehrornophores. Kext are treated the important class of transitions of nonbonding electrons. The inductive effect, mesomeric eKects, and steric effects arising from substitutions are taken up next. Then come the spectra of non-alternant hydrocarbons, radicals, and ions, and of molecular complexes. The book ends with a. chapter on Fluorescence and Phosphorescence. There are several short appendices amplifying certain theoretical points, tabulating group theoretical notation, and giving a completely worked out example of the calculation of the L, band energy of naphthalene by the P-method. The book contains numerous well chosen references to the original literature, about 100 dated 1960 or more recent, and, of course, many others datedin the 1950's or earlier. I n addition, a t the end of each
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