BOOK REVIEWS reactions, but i t also tends to date the utility of the book, as a number of reactions considered may yield different interpretations after further research. The beneidine rearrangement, especially, includes a questionable interpretation (pp. 248-249). desoite the oualificatians of M. J. s.'Dw&, whose mkhanism (1946) is quoted. At s. recent symposium on the transition state (The Chemical Society, 1962) this problem was considered to he unsolved, especislly in the vicinit,y of the energy barrier of the reaction. The format of the hook presents same problems. Even after translation, certain terminology may differ from familiar usage, 8s a distincbion between "aldol sddition" (aldolization) and "aldol condensation" (crotoniaation), as the reversal of certain names (Kishner-Wolff instead of Wolff-Kishner; not an alphabetizing device, since many coupled names are given in orders other than alphabetical) and as the inclusion of both reagent and product in certain type-reactions (hybeneidine rearrangement drambenzene far benzidine rearrangement). This and the lack of any cross references tend t o make searching laborious, even with the use of the table of contents and the indexes. In comparison with other named reaction books that have appeared recently 38, 588 (For example, see THIS JOURNAL [19611), this one is unquestionably mare thorough and more informative. I t also
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delves into more areas, hut includes fewer entries. The question is whether the chemist who probably has a mare authoritative recent mechrtnisms text on his desk wants to pay the high cost of including dated discussions of mechanism in whilt serves mainly as a glossary and literature key for named reactions. LEWISOLIVERSMITH,JR. Valparaiso Universi& Valparaiso, Indiana Semimicro Experiments in Organic Chemistry
Bruce Campbell, JT., MaoMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois, and Ernest R. Kline, University of Conneotieut, Storrs. D. C. Heath and Co., Boston, 1964. ix 160 pp. Figs. and tables. 21 X 28 om. $4.95.
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"This manual has been evolving since 1942," say the authors. At least half has been takenfrom the 1947 manual by Kline. To this has been added twenty preparations, to make a total of sixty, some column and paper chromatographic separations, one quantitative experiment in two parts and a section of fifteen exercises in qualitative analysis. The emphasis is on preparations, some of which are gond old standards, some are interesting variations and a t least one is new, the synthesis of primary ~lcleohols from olefins by hydraboration followed by oxidation. Several interesting sequences are given, notably the synthesis of Congo Red from its parent hydrocarbons, one
step of which is the Piria Reaction. Each preparation starts with a medium length discussion of the general chemistry involved and ends with six or more pertinent questions. The m m u d has a marked appeal to the reviewer because it boldly says the scale is smdl, '%en to twenty per cent of. . . the conventional scale," and because it shows the use of standard taper ground glass jointed rn well as corked glmsware. But for a text titled "Semimicro Experiments" the bare mention of some of the advantages of this approach in a paragraph in the introduction seems too short. A longer discussion could have been more convincing. The defieription of the use of corked semimioro glassware omits mention of the serious drawbacks in its use, such as the marked fragility of the small side arms and the ease with which students lose volatile through corks. Standard taper ground glass jointed small scale glassware is well illustrated and its use as an alternative is given in each experiment. However, the many and great advantages of its use are not discussed a t all. In the reviewer's experience it is the availability of this standard taper ware which has made semimicro preparatious feasible for beginners. The 26 pages used far identical product report forms could have been better used t o give the student more necessary information. There are good sections, sometimes omitted from other manuals, on drying agents, on cleaning glassware (although it tends to be wasteful of acetone) and an (Continued on page A X 6 )
BOOK REVIEWS
gas chromatograph, run by a teaching assistant, on the 2 methyl 2 butene would show that i t contains about 10% of 2 methyl 1 butene. Some warning about the ease with which isopropyl ether farms explosive peroxides should have been included. This text is an important one to take into account when small scale organic preparations are being considered, particrllarly as it is the first to describe consistently the use of standard taper small scale elassware. When comnared to simi-
H. COURTNEY BENEDICT Chico Stale College Chico, California
pecially chemists doing structurd work"; and further, "this volume should also prove valuable as a reference hook." A reviewer must be cognizant of the time and effort the authors have contributed to produce a work of value to others and balance this against the treatment given to the subject matter. I t is unfortunate t,hat this present work falls far short of its intended coals. For the chemist in-
For example, the use of chartracteristic group frequencies in structure analysis (Chapter 5 ) is badly abridged. The stre98 on hydrocarbon spectre. detracts seriously from the d u e of the chapter as a. reference source. The presentation of data in a, strictly one-..ided, wavenumher format complicates the use of charts and figures for a large number of chemists. Although there is no doubt that eventually the use of wavenumber notation will he universally adapted, the fact that the overwhelmine number of reference snectra
IR-Theory ond Practice of Infrared Spectroscopy
Herman A . Szp,anski, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, with a chapter on instrumentation by Nelson 1,. Alperl, Perkin-Elmer Cnrp. Plenum Press, 375 pp. Figs. New York, 1964. xiv and t,ahles. 16 X 23.5 em. $15.
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The snthor has outlined his intentions in writing this msnuscript quite clearly: "It is intended for all who wish to use infrared spect,rascopy in research-a-
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represents an extensive, essentially descriptive treatment af a difficult sohject. In the presentation of both Chapters 4 and 5, particularly in t,he introdoction to Chapter 5, the unfamiliar reader could gain the erroneous impression that the chaxacteristic group frequency treabment is limited to a relatively small number of molecrtles which cannot he treated t h e aretically. In bath chapters, the key
two of the hook, the treatment falls just short of heing authoritative, engendering enough mistrust to lower the general value of the book to a n unfortunate degree. At first glance, the hook gives the general impression of heing useful and sound, but closer perusal suggests that it leaves much to be desired. One should not gain the impression, however, that the book is without merits. The chapter on instrumentation (Chapter 2) by Dr. Nelson Alpert is particularly well done. Perhaps most important is the fact that this chapter is so written that the beginning student will profit greatly from it. Chapter 7 on the spectral library should also receive commends, tion from all interested in data. retrieval of infrared spectral information. This is the first chapter of its type thrtt has been clearly presented in this nuhject area. to date. The suggested readings a t the ends of the latter chapters offer the student ample v.orthwhile sourcw far further informat,ion. Although the material presented has been quite selective the author extensively treats techniques, the more common ones being treated in detail. I n addition a chapter on quantitative analysis discusses Beer's law, multicomponent and differential analysis, and related topics. I t is unfortunate in this chapter thrtt same actual applications with exemplary cases were not cited to show the strong points of quant.itative analyses by infrared. The methodology, the comparison of the accuracy of varying methods, and practi(Continued on page AS18)
