book reviews
lishers have not been slow in meeting this need; in the last few years there have appeared: Glookling, 'The Chemistry of Germanium" (1969); Neumsn, "The treatments not readily found in other Organic Chemistry of Tin" (1970); PoUer, texts, and consequently, will likely be "The Chemistry of Organatin Compounds" very valuable as reference material. (1970); Shilpiro and Frey, "The Organic HANSH. JAFFE Compounds of Lead" (1968); and the University of Cincinnati first volume of a series edited by MacCincinnati. Ohio L6B?I Diarmid. "Orzanometallio Comnounds of the ~ r a IV ; ~klements" (1968): Books sueh as these serve three main purposes: as introductions for students and others new to the subject; as reference books for those already working in this or The Spectra and Structures of Simple in closely related areas; and as keys to the Free Radicals: An Introduction to literature. This work has attempted more Molecular Spectroscopy in the latter two areas than has Gloekling; Gerhard Herzberg, National Research it is much more comprehensive and inCouncil of Canada. Cornell University cludes tables of physical properties for all 226 pp. Press, Ithaca, 1971. xi known compounds. Except for some Figs. and tables. 23 X 16 em. $11. spectral data, sueh tables are not found in Glackling. This feature, in itself, makes This book is based on a series of George the present work invaluable to the active Fisher Baker lectures presented by the researcher. Glackling's greater selectivauthor a t Cornell University. A brief inity, on the other hand, makes it more troduction outlines the principal methods suitable as an introduction to the subiect.. for production and observation of radicals p~rtirulnrlyaiuce this selectwit). i s comin the gas phase snd their identification by I h c d with n more witicnl nttltudc toward spectroscopic methods. As a n illustrathr litcrnturc nnd grchrcr care i n brinring tion of careful and thorough identification, related material together. the author describes his search for the The most important criteria, for usefulmethylene radical. ness as a reference work are accuracy and The principal radicals and ions are diicompleteness. A spot check of a random cussed in subsequent chapters, classified selection of data taken from both the text as Diatomic, Linear Polyatomic, and Nonand the tables has not uncovered any linear Polyatomic. Appropriate spectroinaccuracies in compiling mttterial from scopic theory is given in each chapter with the primary sources. The literature snrnumerous applications to specific radicals. vey appears to be complete through 1968, The discussion of principles throughout partial for 1969, with one reference from the book forms an ample justificstion for 1970. The overwhelming preponderance its subtitle, "An Introduction to Molecular of the references are subsequent to 1962. Spectroscopy." Although the facts are accurate, citing of The reviewer believes that a study of literature references is somewhat less these simple systems, which containonly a. careful. Durinn the check far accuracv. a. few atoms, should form a very good introduction to spectroscopy. Radicak furthermore are of current interest in chemistry, physics, and astronomy. This volture. ume forms a. ready reference to the most There is evidence, moreover, that some reliable observations. If further det& of the more recent material has been inare necessary far special cases, this book corpnmrcd into the tcrt hnphazardlv. prepares the reader for the more compreFor exumplc, on p. :X, thc 18:UI pnprr hy hensive three-volume work by the author. Kraus und Woostrr rlitimine rhr urroaraThe book is attractively printed and tion of [(CsHs)aGe]rN is mentioned. bound. The relatively low price is also There follows a reference to the 1969 paper very attractive. of Highsmith and Sisler reporting that the A. B. F. DUNCAN compound isolated by Kraus and Wooster was actually [(C6H&Ge].NH. The falUniversity of Virginia lowing page is taken up with a description Charlottesoille of work carried out in the 1930's by Kraus, reporting various reactions involving (CsHs)sGeNHz, [(CeHdrGelsNH, and [(C8H6)*GeI8N,with no indication given that most of this has been invalidated by The Organic Compounds of Germanium Highsmith and Sisler's work. Neither is any ~ ~and ~ there ~ ~ hint z that l the ~ only ~ compound , Miehel Lesbre, pierre~ Jacques Satge, all of sahatier actually isolated by Kraus was the supUniversity, Toulouse. Interscience posed [(C6H&GeIsN. I n the tahles, references are given to Kraus' work for all publishers (a division of john wiley & three compounds; the 1969 paper is not sons,I ~ c . ) ,N~~ yark, 1971. ~ i + i 701 pp. Figs. and tsbles. 16 x 23.5 The present work is four times as expencm. $44. sive as Glaekling's; its price will put it Growing interest in the organometallic beyond the reach of most individuals and chemistry of the heavier elements of the limit its purchase to institutional libraries. carbon subgroup has lead t o a need for The price may be justified: this book is monographs providing an introduction to overthree times the size of Glockling's; the extensive and rapidly expanding the extensive tabular material has probaperiodical literature in this area. Pubbly increased printing costs. Ho-uever,
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there are many cases where tighter editorial control could have resulted in amore compact book. I t is good that strueturd formulas of complicated molecules are included in the tables, but there is no real need to repeat the same structure over and over, for a series of related compounds, when the result is that a whole page is needed topresent the melting points of 5 or 6 comnounds (See. . , ex.. D. 187). Material is unnecessarily duplicated in different sections of the book. The "non-classical" Grignard reaction, by which the action of the Grignard Reagent on GeC4 results in RsGeH, R8Gen, and polygermrtnes, in addition to the expected R6Ge, is presented with much repetition on pages 10-11, 39, 262-3, 629-30, and 6567. A mare unified presentation, suitably crass-referenced a t other points in the text, would not only be more concise, but could also have lead to a better comparative picture of the evidence for the various mechanisms which have been proposed. In summary, as an introduction t o the subject, Glockling's book, or for an even broader overview. Ebsworth's chanter in Volume I of "~rganometallic omp pounds of the Group IV Elements" must he prefered. Far those working in this area this book is indispensable, but could have been even more useful, if it had been less expensive, better organized, and more careful in its references. DENISQUANE East Tezas State University Commerce, Tezas 75428
