Functional Groups’, is, like other volumes in the series, a mine of useful information excellently produced. The series in general forms an indispensable part of any good library and this volume is no exception. It is only a pity that the cost precludes individual purchase.

I was slightly at loss to be certain whether this volume is meant to cover solely a$- enones as implied by the formula on the dust jacket or whether other classes of enones are meant to be included when their chemistry is distinct from that of the separate alkene and carbonyl groups. There is certainly reference in some chapters to other classes of enones, e.g. the photochemistry, and one chapter is devoted to the chemical and enzymatic con- version of B,y-enones to a&enones.

The first six chapters deal with theoretical studies, structural chemistry, spectra and thermochemistry of enones. Methods of synthesis of enones are discussed in a long chapter. Treatment of the Pauson-Khand reaction is superficial in that no mention is made of the regiochemistry of the reaction. This is followed by chapters on their use in synthesis (there is also a later chapter on the use of enones in asymmetric synthesis) and typical reactions with nucleophiles, radicals, and electrophiles. There follow chapters on the electrochemistry, photochemistry, radia- tion chemistry, oxygenation, and reduction of enones. The volumes finish with chapters on organometallic derivatives of a$- unsaturated enones, dienols (from enoliza- tion of enones), and polymerization of enones.

One of the major difficulties in any multi- author volume such as this is to assign by editorial directive what the scope of each chapter should be. I am far from convinced that the planning was as good as it should have been in assigning topics to chapters. Thus while there is a chapter on nucleophilic additions to enones some examples are also discussed in the chapter on synthetic uses of enones. There is no cross referencing be- tween these twd sections and the division of material seems haphazard. It would have been helpful if the contents included the detailed contents of each chapter.

Spot checks on the subject index revealed numerous deficiencies. Thus the entry on ‘cycloadditions’ does not refer to their use in synthesis but only to the chapter on polymerization. The entry ‘photoreduction of cyclohexenones’ refers to photoreduction in propan-2-01 but not in triethylamine.

D. C. Nonhebel

One and Two Dimensional NMR Spectroscopy. By Atta-ur-Rahman. Pp. 578. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 1989. uS$l86.75. D fl355.00.

Atta-ur-Rahman has produced a book cover- ing most of the modern pulse methods avail- able for NMR studies of liquids. He promises a conversational introduction to the princi- ples of these techniques suitable for non- experts, sharing his careful study of the

primary literature with beginners in the field. Such an unprejudiced viewpoint can have considerable advantages over the works of ‘experts’ who all too easily become bogged down in minutiae and jargon. This would have given the book a clear advantage a few years ago, but comparison with several excel- lent works published recently tends to high- light the occasional muddle and inaccuracy. The book works better as a compendium of pulse sequences for reference. The level of scholarship is most apparent in this regard, but a critical discussion of the practical utility of each method would have been desirable. The book has a third aspect: a series of examples presented as problems for the reader. These are useful, though rather sim- ple, and it is interesting that only a small proportion of the myriad of variations of pulse sequences described in the text appear in practical applications from the author’s laboratory. Overall, this is a worthwhile book, but not an essential addition to a library.

David L. Turner

Data Analysis in the Chemical Industry. Volume 1: Basic Techniques. By I?. Calcutt. Pp. 231. Ellis Horwood, Chichester. 1990. f45.00.

Many textbooks currently cover the statistic- al techniques necessary for application to problems from particular areas of science. The majority of these books are, however, standard statistical texts with examples drawn from the relevant scientific discipline. As a result they are not of real practical use to busy scientists.

This book does not, however, fall into the above category. Rather, it is structured in such a manner that the industrial chemist can recognise common problems such as asses- sing quality and quantity, comparing pro- ducts and material variability, and then delve into the statistical techniques required to deal with them.

As well as a background in applied statis- tics the author has also studied and taught educational psychology and it is claimed that the self-study approach of this text is based upon ‘sound psychological principles’. Hav- ing worked through the exercises and self- tests in several chapters I would agree that this book is indeed well structured, easy to follow, and serves well as a self-study guide.

To summarise, it covers the statistical con- cepts needed to cope with industrial chemical data analysis problems, and is suitable for industrial scientists, and undergraduate and postgraduate students.

P. Smith

Vogel’s Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry. 5th Edn. By B. S. Furniss, A. J. Hannaford, P. W. G. Smith and A. R. Tatchell. Pp. 1514. Longman, Harlow. 1989. f36.00.

Since A. I. Vogel published his first in 1948, successive editions of this valuable guide

have been much used. The new one, revised and extended by staff of Thames Polytechnic, covers all necessary areas in a one-volume bench manual for organic laboratory work.

The first third of the book deals with methodology and strategy of synthesis, ex- perimental techniques, apparatus, hazards, spectroscopy (IR, NMR, UV, mass) solvents, and reagents. The heart of the book (and half its size) is devoted to examples of prepa- rative procedures. Information is very full, with discussion of mechanisms and types of reaction. The detail and extensive testing of the procedures makes them as reliable and free from hazard as any that can be found. Following this, a very adequate section (200~~) deals with the identification of orga- nic compounds, covering their classification, derivatization methods, and tables of deriva- tives.

Seven appendices provide a guide to orga- nic chemical literature, and list useful spec- tral correlations, solvent characteristics, synthons, and laboratory supplies. Finally, the full index that such a compendium needs is indeed supplied.

Most of what the student needs at hand in the organic laboratory is here, or something close to it. Omissions are few, though some- thing on the separation of mixtures and the isolation of natural products would have been valuable.

The anonymus reviewer of the 1st edition in Endeavour (July, ,1948) began ‘This is an ambitious book, but it may be said at once that the ambition is fulfilled’. This is still true of the 5th edition.

E. D. Morgan

Standardization within Analytical Chemistry. By Pekka Kivalo. Pp. 440. Akademiai Kiado, Budapest. 1989. f23.00.

Following a brief introduction, review of analytical chemistry per se, and use of stan- dardized analytical methods the subject of methods of standardization is dealt with in detail. Topics included in the latter are: nomenclature/terminology; assessment of standards projects; layout for standards of chemical analysis; and sampling and quality assurance, followed by an explanation and account of harmonization of collaborative studies. The text concludes with chapters on legislation and standards and on future trends.

Five appendices, occupying half the space, complete the volume; ISO/IEC Guide 2-1986 (E F R) IS0 78/2-1982 (E), IS0 57251986 (E), AOAC Guidelines for interlaboratory collaborative study procedure to validate characteristics of a method of analysis, and ISO-IEC Guide 43-1984 (E).

The book benefits from a great enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, the current standards scene put over in a personal and philosophic- al style. It is, however, marred by numerous errors in historical aspects in parts of the text.

D. Thorburn Burns

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