Organic Chemistry, A Comprehensive Degree Text and Sourcebook. By H. Beyer and W. Walter, Translator and Editor

This book has few counterparts. It is an English translation of the very successful ‘Lehrbuch der Organischen Chemie ’, written by Hans Beyer and revised in latter editions by Walter. Its 1037 pages in soft cover contain information on experimental techniques, qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis, and physical methods of structure determination, in addition to a detailed treatment of theory according to the major classes of compounds, from aliphatic compounds and the various functional group types, to alicyclics, carbohydrates, aromatics, isoprenoids, heterocyclic compounds, amino acids, peptides and nucleic acids, and a systematic treatment of enzymes and metabolic processes, and contain many examples of applications.

The translation has been faithful to the original German text in layout and design, and is in fact based on the most recent 22nd edition of the German Lehrbuch (textbook) including the block diagrams. However, material yet to be published in the forthcoming 23rd edition has also been added and, as if to emphasise the German perspective that the book provides, Llyod has retained many of the German language references along with European and American references.

The book is very much out of step with modern course texts and will be criticised for its lack of colour. However, it could be used in conjunction with many organic chemistry/biochemistry degree courses. It is sufficiently encyclopaedic and up-to-date that it would be excellent value as a reference work for specialists.