BOOK REVIEWS 759 wealth of knowledge of carbohydrate chemistry--for which adequate coverage exists elsewhere. Rather than attempt to discuss thoroughly the prolific analytical chemistry of the carbonyl group, the author confines himself to describing general chemical and physical techniques for identification and determination. Thus the nature of 11 qualitative chemical procedures are very briefly and uncritically outlined but rather more details are given for nine quantitative methods having general application. The account of physical techniques comprises short notes on the scope of chromato- graphic (gl, paper and column, but with only one reference to thin layer), spectroscopic (uv, ir, nmr, and ms), polarographic and amperometric methods. Further chapters deal with specific types of property of the CO group, viz. basicity, aldehyde oxidation, reduction, principles and applications of key condensations to C=C and C----N, a rather tedious review of reactions with organometals mainly from a mechanistic rather than utilitarian standpoint, a very sound examination of methods for removing the CO group, a concise account of molecular rearrangements of alde- hydes and ketones, and finally the very fecund field of photochemical mutation of CO systems. The last chapter of the treatise, is strictly, not concerned with the carbonyl group itself but the thione analogue is of sufficient general importance to merit this useful summary of the preparations and properties of known thioketones. In any event the thiocarbonyl function would not conveniently have fitted into projected volumes in Professor Patai's series--that is the ether, amino, nitro and carboxyl groups. It should perhaps be emphasised that the series of treatises is deliberately intended to provide a detailed review of general properties of specified functional groups. Thus this particular work is not helpful as a reference book to explicit carbonyl compounds, or even families of compounds, such as terpenes or steroids containing the CO group. Similarly, industrial keto compounds, and particularly those of pharmaceutical or cosmetic importance, do not fall within the arebit of this book. Relatively few errors were detected but there is an unfortunately glaring one right at the beginning of the first chapter: it may be that the reference to two, rather than two pairs of, "lone pair" electrons at the oxygen atom has suffered from translation. Printing, especially tabulation, is of an excellent standard and there is a comprehensive index to authors of literature cited in the text, and a somewhat more superficial--albeit more important --subject index. In sum, while there is still room for argument on the balance between space afforded different topics, the monumental standard of the first volume has undoubtedly been maintained. G.F. PHILLIPS STRUCTURE AND BONDING. Editors: C. K. Jorgensen, J. B. Neilands, R. S. Nyholm, D. Reinen and R. J. P. Williams. Vol. 2. Pp. 250 + Ill. DM48. $12. Vol. 3. Pp. 115. DM28. $7. (1967). Vol. z•. Pp. 229. (1968). DM 48. $12. Springer-Verlag, Berlin/ Heidelberg/New York. In this new series, papers are being published which deal with all fields of inorganic chemistry, chemical physics, and biochemistry where the basic problems

760 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS are of chemical structure and bonding forces. It is published at indefinite intervals, according to the material received. Volume 2 contains four papers. "The physics of haemoglobin" {M. Weissbluth) deals with a molecule that is probably the best understood of all biological molecules from the standpoint of physics. Experimental information on the physical properties of haemoglobin is summarised under the headings of Chemistry, Structure, Absorp- tion Spectra, Magnetic Properties, and Mossbauer Resonance discussion of the theoretical background for the interpretation of experimental data then forms the bulk of this 125-page paper. "Chlorophyll triplet states" (G. M. Maggiora and L. L. Ingraham) is concerned with some theoretical considerations on triplet formation. It has been shown that in chlorophyll-sensitised photochemical reactions occurring in solution, an excited triplet state of chlorophyll is an essential intermediate. In this paper the process of triplet formation is investigated, and the "fitness" of chlorophyll to produce triplet states is discussed. "Chemistry and structure of some borate polyols of biochemical interest" (U. Weser) deals with the molecular structure of boric acid and various polyborates, and discusses their ability to react with saccharides, nucleotides and nucleosides, hydroxy- carbolic acids, and aromatic polyols. "Reversible Oxygenierung yon Metallkomplexen" (E. Bayer and P. Schretzmann) discusses the problem of how the respiratory pigments can combine reversibly with molecular oxygen without thereby becoming irreversibly oxidised. Discussion is concerned first with model metal complexes, then with heme proteins, and lastly with the less well understood invertebrate pigments hemerythrin, hemocyanin, and hemovanadin. Volume $ contains three papers in the field of inorganic chemistry. "Structural chemistry of octahedral fluorocomplexes of the transition elements" (D. Babel) reviews aspects of the chemistry of the more common structural types, and then discusses structural principles and magnetic interactions. "Degrees of polarity and mutual polarisation of ions in the molecules of alkali fluorides, SrO, and BaO" (K. Fajans) discusses the problems involvecl in defining the polarity of molecules, as illustrated by the fact that the largest polarity has been ascribed by different authors to three different molecules, NaF, CaF, and SrO. "Relations between softness, covalent bonding, ionicity and electric polariz- ability" {C. K. Jorgensen) discusses the meanings of the terms "softness" and "hard- ness" when used in the sense of a property associated with electric dipole polariz- ability. Volume 4 deals with problems of chemical structure and bonding forces. It con- tains three papers, one in the realm of biophysics, and two dealing with physical aspects of inorganic chemisty. "Quantum chemical studies on the submolecular structure of the nucleic acids" {S. Fraga and C. Valdemoro) reviews the theoretical work which has been carried out on the electronic structure of the bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine and uracil. They are considered as independent molecules, as hydrogen-bonded pairs, or as associations of two or three bases stacked on top of each other as they occur in the