The new book, "Applications of Absorption Spectroscopy of Organic Compounds" by Dyer has three separate sections dealing with UV, I R and NMR spectra. Over half of the text deals with NMR spectra. Some of the problems have several different types of spectra given. These problems often contain additional information such as melting points, boiling points, and chemical reactions. There are many spectra given to illustrate the principles but only nine IR, four W, and ten NMR problems are provided with answers. The solutions to these problems may be obtained by a cheek of the literature or secondary sources. These problems, however, are very imaginative and require some knowledge of the chemical reactions of organic compounds. The text does not attempt to explain the origin of the different spectra in m y detail but concentrates an the application of spectral data to elucidate structural problems. The level of this book is such that an undergraduate student should be able to profit a great deal from its use. The inclusion of chemical data with the spectra should make this text attractive to teachers of qualitative organic chemistry.
R. WILLIAMS THEODORE College of Wooster Wooster. Ohio
Semimicro Qualitative Organic Analysis: The Systematic Identification of Organic Compounds
Nicholas D. Cheronis (deceased), Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York, John B. Entrikin, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, and Ernest M. Hodnett, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. 3rd ed. Interscience Publishers (a division of John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), New York, 1965. xi 1060 pp. Fi-. and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $29.50.
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The third edition of this comprehensive coverage of qualitative organic analysis has been reorganized and largely rewritten. While the book has increased in length by about 35%, the price has increased by 225% (to $29.50), which dictates its use as a referencework rather than as a text. An abridged version of the second edition ("Identification of Organic Compounds," Wiley-Interscience, 1963, W.95) is avsilable as a text. The present edition deals primarily with chemical methods (witb a brief but extensively referenced chapter on instrumental methods) and is divided into four parts: 1, Techniques of Organic Analysis; 2, Procedures for Tentative Identification of an Unknown; 3, Procedures for Final Characterization of an unknown; 4, Tables of Orgrtnio Compounds with Their Constants and Derivatives. The discussion of laboratory techniques (assuming a sample size of 50 mg to 1 g) has been expanded and covers almost any ooeratiou normauv encountered in an organic laboratory. A description of newer equipment and methods is included.
A discussion of the relationship of structure to physical properties has been added but is so brief that it seems out of proportion when compared with the rest of the presentation. A useful chapter on classification by t s usual acid-base indicators s u.~- ~ l e m e nthe solubility procedures. The monumental table of physical constants covers 7100 compounds and their derivatives (compared to 4100 in the second edition) and would be very valuable as a separate publication. The references at the end of each chapter are wellchosen and numerous. There is a separate index for the text and for the tables. This complete coverage of qualitative organic analysis should serve ss an invaluable reference for the undergraduate and graduate student as well as the practicing organic chemist, and should be in every library.
JAMES L. A. WEBB Goucher College Tmuson, Ma~yland
Organometallic Syntheses. Volume 1, Transition-metal Compounds
R. B. King, Mellon Institute, Pit* burgh, Pennsylvania. Edited by J . J . Eiseh, Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C., and R. B. King. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1965. 186 pp. Fig,% and tables. 16 X xii 23 om. $6.50.
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This book is a most welcome addition to thr l~rerntureof orpxnumetnllir rhmiurry. Thr objective of !he smr*, ~ u w r ~ s f d l y fulfilled irr Volume 1, is t o provide dear and reliable procedures for the preparation of important orgauometallic corn pounds. However, the reviewer believes that this limited goal is far surpassed and predicts that many teachers will find this volume useful as one of several texts to be used in a synthesis course. Part I of this volume contains brief (59 page) description of techniques used in transition-metal oarganometallic chemistry. The topics in this section are: A. Techniques for carrying out reactions, reactions in open systems at atmospheric pressure, reactions in closed systems, photochemical reactions; B. Techniques for isolation and purifying products, crystallization, volatiliaation, chromatography; C. Techniques for identifying products, melting point, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, elemental analysis and molecular weight determinations, ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, less frequently used techniques; D. Precautions, against oxidation, againat toxic materials, against fire aud explosion. Section I is an excellent introduction to the use of high pressure equipment, Schlenk tubes, vacuum sublimation methods, chromatography equipment, and many other techniques. For use as a text the section on Techniques for Identifying Products should have been expanded. However, the author does make extensive reference to mare detailed discussions.
Part 11 of this volume contains a description of the syntheses of over sixty transition-metal organometbllic compounds. The chapters in this section are: A. Biscyclopeutadienylmetd Derivatives; B. Metal Carbonyls without other ligsnds; C. Cyclopentadienylmetd Carbonyls; D. Olefin and Acetylene Metal Complexes; E. Areue Metal Complexes; F. Cycloheptatrienyl and Cycloheptadienyl Metal Complexes; G. Alkyl, Acyl, and Perfluomalkyl Metal Carbonyls; H. Metal Carbonyl Hydride Derivatives; I. Metal Nitrasyl Derivatives; J . Metal Carbonyl Halide Derivatives; K . Metal Carbonyl Derivatives with Phosphorus and Sulfur ligands. Many of the syntheses in this volume were originally published in the German, French, or Russian literature; consequently, it is very useful to have these compiled in a single volume along witb those already published in English. The author has wisely refrained fmm including adequately tested procedures already published in either "Inorganic Syntheses" or "Organic Syntheses," but does make reference to these procedures in the appropriate sections of the book. Other valuable comments by the author include when and where starting materials and a t time products are available, and notes about the toxicity and stability of each compound. I am confident (and hopeful) that the editors will retain for future volumes the high standards observed in volume one and will resist the temptation to publish one volume each year unless the quality and quantity of material warrants it.
Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds. Volume 1, Part C, Monocarbonyl Derivatives of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, Their Analogues and Derivatives
Edited by S. Coffey. 2nd ed. American Elsevier Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 1965. xvi f 432 pp. Tables. 16 X 23 cm. $27. Dr. Samuel Coffey, formerly of the Dyestuff Division, has undertaken the editorship for a complete revision of E. H. Rodd's well-known and highly respected 10 volume reference series on "Chemistry of Carbon Compounds!' The first volume of this revision appeared in 1964,and the present volumeconstitutes the third in a series of 7 revised volumes (IA-IG) planned for Volume IA and I B (Aliphatic Compounds) of the original Rodd series. (See THIS JOURNAL,41, A904 [November, 19641, and 42, 580 [October, 19651.) With the exception of small changes only, the plan, organization, format and style of the second edition follow that of the first edition. The large amount of new material included, however, has persuaded the editor and publishers that publication of the revision will be more effectively accomplished by means of a large number of smaller and more frequent sub-volumes, rather than
Volume 42, Number 12, December 1965
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