BOOK REVIEWS 263 although nominally 1937 to 1964, due to the relatively recent importance of this class of compounds, is virtually the period since the discovery of ferrocene in 1950 to 1964. The only classification is by type of compound (there being no index). Each compound has, where available, methods of preparation used, properties, reactions and, only in the case of patents, the uses. There is no concession to the casual reader as it is necessary to go to the original papers for any detailed information (other than the colour, melting point, boiling point or specific rotation). It does not set out to be a critical work--the editorial achievement is simply in condensing the original material from 2,335 abstracts into 750 pages of text. This leads one to some interesting speculations--CsHsV4(CO) being reported as "briefly stable in air, dec. rapidly in organic solvents"--although being of use as an "anti-knock agent"! No attempt has been made to record any biological properties and consequently the work will have little interest to cosmetic chemists unless some currently undiscovered applicatkm becomes of major importance. A comprehensive bibliography is marred as with the rest of the text by a lack of critical comment. The photo offset reproduction of typescript gives a surprisingly pleasant-to-read reproduction and there are commendably few errors. Inevitably with an abundance of footnotes, there is sometimes difficulty in relating these to text and this may have led, in page 705, to patent reference K having been misplaced. Under each compound reference is listed (as available) the outline synthetic methods with yields, physical properties, melting and boiling point, and references to other physical determinations. A rather full account of the reactions is probably the most valuable feature and for a few compounds the uses are mentioned. There has been little published work on the organic derivatives of the Group III metals including the lanthanides and actinides, but in Group IV titanium derivatives have been extensively investigated, principally as co-catalysts in olefine and vinyl polymerizations. Of the Group V metals vanadium has been most widely studied for similar applica- tions while in Group VI chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten.have each a number of patents claiming metal plating by thermal decomposition of the organo-metallic derivative. The compounds of iron occupy about half the book of which the 11 bonded cyclopentadiene compounds constitute the bulk of•the references notably, of course, ferrocene and derivatives. Compounds of ruthenium and rhodium have attracted little interest, but cobalt, nickel and platinum have all considerable structural interest. The extreme reactivity of aqueous platinic chloride with olefines to give Zeise-type salts would surely be of wider application were the metal not so unavailable. This is certainly a field where advances in applications will surely come but until this time, this is a publication of rather narrow appeal. J.M. BLAKEWAY BESTIMMUNG DER ISOTOPENVERTEILUNG IN MARKIERTEN. VERBINDUNGEN. Editors: H. Simon and H. G. Floss. Pp. x q- 247 q- Ill. (1967). Springer-Verlag, Berlin/ Heidelberg/New York. DM 54. $13.50. This is the first of a series of three volumes dealing with the use of isotopes in organic chemistry and biochemistry. It provides authentic information on the specialised techniques used in analysing the isotopic partition (e.g. C • 2/C' 4 and H/D)

264 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS over the various parts of an organic molecule. As the use of "tagged" molecules seems readily adaptable to many problems in cosmetic chemistry, the book can be highly recommended to all cosmetic scientists who are considering new research techniques. The expansive bibliography (802 nos.!), together with the systematic survey of all organic molecules, which have already been analysed in this way, offers the possibility of a quick and easy entry into this rapidly-growing section of analytical procedures. G. CARRIERE DIE SYNTHESE VON EINHEITLICHEN POLYMEREN. J. H. Winter. Pp. xiii q- 415 q- Ill. (1967). Springer-Verlag, Berlin/ Heidelberg/New York. DM 89. $22.25. When speaking of synthetic polymers, most chemists think of rather com- plicated mixtures of big molecules. These molecules usually differ greatly in size and shape, and even in chemical structure. On the other hand, we must not forget that to mother nature the synthesis of much more homogeneous polymers is an everyday task: polysaccharides, proteins, natural gums and nucleic acids--to mention only a few--all are there to prove that better ways and means exist than those normally used in our plastics industry. However, during the last few years, even big industry has been willing to learn from nature, and the results are remarkable indeed. The author, connected with Farbwerke H6chst AG in Frankfurt, is a well-known authority in this field and his survey, with its many references, especially to patent literature, gives a clear and vivid picture of the present situation. G. CARRIERE TASCHENBUCH FOR CHEMIKER UND PHYSIKER. E. Lax. Pp. xvi q- 1522. (1967). Springer-Verlag, Berlin/Heidelberg/ New York. DM 68. $17.00. Complete revision of this reference book has taken place in the preparation of the $rd edition. Vol. 1 is divided into seven chapters, the first of which surveys units and methods, and which lists the symbols and abbreviations used in the subsequent chapters for identification of units, etc. Chapters 2~7 list the elements and inorganic compounds in the alphabetical order of chemical symbols, whereas organic compounds are arranged according to ttill's system. This book is excellent value for money, and should prove of great value even to those scientists who do not possess a fluent command of the German language. A.H. SELECTED PAPERS OF GEORGE HEVESY. Pp. ix q- 447 q- Ill. (1967). Pergamon Press, Oxford. 90s. $14.50. Professor Heresy, Nobel prize winner and discoverer of the element hafnium, died in 1966, just before the publication of this fascinating book. In addition to the 51 papers he selected, we are presented with a bibliography of 410 items. There are useful comments appended to many of the papers. bringing them up-to-date. Professor Heresy was the first to use naturally occurring radioactive isotopes in