82 BOOK REVIEWS explosion hazards and safety precau- tions are written into procedural directions, although the purist baulks at the number of ponderous introductions: "In a hood behind a safety screen in a flask X is placed". In fact, the style throughout--and indeed the title---is somewhat telegraphic but this is no drawback in a recipe book. In most instances the methods are taken from the open literature but there is occasional support from the un- published experience of the authors. Chromatographic and spectrometric means of establishing the identity and homogeneity are not described, nor are means of clean-up of the reaction product but these aspects should be part of the training and experience acquired by any organic synthetist. There is a useful list of the 'name' reactions dealt with in the text, as well as cited author and subject indexes. The last named is mainly limited to sub- stances, although in practice the detailed synopsis at the beginning of each chap- ter should resolve a search for a method of a given type for a given function. However, it is much less help when enquiring about alternative products of a given reaction perhaps the scope of the subject index could be widened in a later edition. G.F. PHILLIPS ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS. FORMULA INDEX to the 2nd edn. of VOLUMES I TO III. M. Dub, Editor: Pp. 343. (1969). Springer-Verlag, Berlin, New York. DM. 72 $19.80. This book, too, is concerned with synthesis--but in the field of organo- metallic chemistry. Apart from the explanatory preface, it contains no prose text, serving instead as a compre- hensive formula index to about 8 500 substances cited in the three volumes-- published in 1966, '67 and '68•dealing respectively with organic compounds of (1) transition metals, (2) germanium, tin and lead, and (3) arsenic, antimony and bismuth. The series, which is edited by M. Dub of Monsanto, describes methods of synthesis, physical constants and chemical reactions. The text is entirely crisp and sharp despite photographic reproduction from typescript--presum- ably to ensure speedy publication and hopefully minimize errors. The only error actually detected in a superficial examination was a pair of divalent As atoms and this in a block purporting to be a correction of (a different) error in an earlier volume. For convenience in using the index, each molecular formula is expressed as metal: C:H nonmetal. The nonmetals are arranged strictly alphabetically, whereas the metal sequence although broadly alphabetic is subdivided as follows: M• before M2, M n, M M', M2M', M2M n, MnM', etc. M M' M", MnM'M*, etc. (for example: Sn•¾ precedes Sn2Fe before SnAsMn). The heterometallics are additionally cross-referred under each metal in its alphabetic main sequence. To speed recognition and distinguish isomers the molecular formula is follow- ed by a simplified linear expression of the structural formula but using the full title for complex cyclic systems. About 70 substances overlooked in the main index have been added as a supplement. Finally, there is an 18 page Appendix setting out corrections and additions for the three textual volumes. G. F. PHILLIPS