and the other on chromatography and ionexchange. Each of the 15 chapters has a section on application to relevancy and 11 of the chapters have problem sets a t the end. This h w k is designed for students with no training in =aleulus or physical chemistry who turn out to be premedical, biology, med-techs, food chemists, entomologists, and soil chemists. Having taught students of this type for eight years I can testify that this text is about the right Level academically. The principles are presented without trying to overwhelm them with mathematics and the problems in the problem sets are usually limited to quantitative analysis. This h w k is well worth considering if you have to teach instrumentation to nonchemists. C. E. Meloan Kansas State University ManhanmKansas66506
A Concise Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Albert Zlotkis, University of Houston, Eberhord Breitrnaier and Giinther Jung, both of die Universitit Tiibingen. McGraw-Hill Book Ca., New York, 1973. viii 622 pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 16 cm. $11.95.
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The authors have designed their text for those students and readers who desire a modem comprehensive survey of the essential principles and practice of organic chemistry. The preface states: "The material is covered in considerable depth, sufficient to provide the basis for graduate work in chemistry and allied fields. The subject matter is presented in terms of earbonium ions, free radicals, carbanions, carhenes, and other reactive intermediates. Aliphatic and aromatic compounds have been integrated whenever feasible." One obtains the impression from reading the preface that the text is probably organized according to the so-called "principle approach," hut in actual fact the arganization of the teat is along traditional topical functional group lines. The chemical bond is covered in Chapter 1 in 16 pages followed by alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and alkyl halides (Chapters 2-5). Stereochemistry is discussed in Chapter 6 followed by eyelie hydrocarbons, aromaticity, benzene and a d halides (Chapters 7-10). Various functional groups are covered in Chapters 11-18 (e.g., carboxylic acids and aromatic diazonium salts) and special topics which include heterocyclic compounds, carbohydrates, and amino acids; peptides are covered in Chapters 19-21. The final chapter deals with the spectroscopic properties of organic molecules. Each chapter ends with a collection of appropriate questions. Answers are given to some of the problems at the hack of the hook. The text is succinct in explanations throughout and one obtains the impression that the subject matter is presented in the form of lecture notes. However, some explanations of mechanisms are clear and concise. The application of spectroscopic principles toward the elucidation of chemical structures and reaction mechanisms is
absent thlouehout the text. a natural consequence of ouvcrmg spectruseopir propertier in the final chapter. No spare is :wen to thc important tnpic of conrrpti of urbital symmetry control of certain organic reactions. Also, natural products involving alkaloids, steroids and terpenes and synthetic polymers are discussed very briefly or not at all. The text has too many typographical or chemical errors. A random sample of some of these errors follows: The alkene on page 77 illustrating the structure determination of an unknown compound should have a methylgroup; the heraalkylbenzeneonpage 93 ismissing an alkyl group; the cycloheaene formed in the first step of the allylic freeradical bromination mechanism on page 99 should be a cyclohexyl free radical; cyclmctene on page 165 in the addition reaction with peroxyformic acid is missing a double bond; the cyclooctatetraenyl dianion listed on page 178 is missing a negative charge; in the explanation under Wittig reactmn on page 309 the authors state that "the triphenyl alkyl phwphonium ion abstracts a proton to the phosphorus" when in fact phenyl lithium does the ahstracting to form the ylide. This reviewer questions the pedagogical value of discussing processes or reactions involving other functional groups before these groups are presented; for example, The Reppe Process involving the ethynylatian of aldehydes is described on page 94 although aldehydes are not presented to the student until page 287. Unfortunately, no suggested related reading assignments are given. This omission i s especially unfortunate in a teat of this type with its succinct style. Overall, I do not think the text, by itself, presents a rigorous enough treatment of material desired for the chemistry major but perhaps combined with other reference material, it can be used successfully. Augustine Silveira. Jr. State University of New York College at Oswego OSWB~O, New York 13126
The Chemical Basis of Life: an Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology
Introductions by P. C. Hanawolt, Stanford University and R. H. Hqnes, York University, Toronto. W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, California, 1973. viii 405 pp. 28.5 x 21.5 em. Cloth $12.. Paper $5.95.
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This hook updates the 1% collection on a similar theme. Seventeen of the previous articles are retained; 21 new ones are added. Papers are grouped under the themes, Energy Flow in Living Systems, Molecular Architecture, Macromolecular Complexes and Their Assembly, and Information Transfer and Control. Users of the previous volume and the individual off-prints will find this a valuable assembly between one set of covers. The reports by authorities in the field, supplemented by -the artful and accurate figures and photographs done in Scientific American style make this an outstanding value far professor and student. W. F. K.
Volume 51, Number 5, May 7974
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