regarding the quite considerable toxicity of thallium com- pounds. Next there comes a detailed account of the structur- al features of the most important compounds, and of the unique physical and chemical properties which result. In this context the authors also deal with the chemical characteriza- tion of the materials. The magnetic behavior, which is of crucial importance in superconductors, is discussed in detail, taking into consideration both the fundamental macroscopic magnetic effects which are important in superconductivity, and phenomena of microscopic origin such as paramag- netism and antiferromagnetism. The magnetic resonance methods which are routinely used to investigate such phe- nomena are described, with special emphasis on their appli- cations to superconductors. Other features of the solid state such as energy gaps, densities of states, electron-phonon cou- pling, and the experimental methods used to investigate them, are also covered, and a selection of typical data is included, which is useful for the experimentalist. The con- cluding chapters are devoted to transport properties and tunneling phenomena, especially in relation to electrical and thermal effects.

It would have been useful to include more detail on real structures, e.g. by discussing results from electron microsco- py studies. Also it is surprising that the ionic radii according to Shannon, which are nowadays most generally used, have not been applied here. The few small errors which have crept .into the work as a consequence of the vast amount of litera- ture to be covered d o not significantly diminish the value of the monograph. The book is aimed particularly at readers who are already working in this field, but it also provides a valuable introduction to the very large and complex body of published work for newcomers to the topic.

Reginald Gruehn [NB 974 IE] Institut fur Anorganische und Analytische Chemie

der Universitit GieBen (FRG)

Vitamins. By W Friedrich. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 1988. xii, 1058 pp., hardcover, D M 380.00.- ISBN 3-1 1-010244-710-89925-273-7

This comprehensive monograph is a very welcome revised and translated edition of a recently published book in Ger- man by the same author (W. Friedrich: Handbuch der Vita- mine, Urban & Schwarzenberg, Munich 1987, 657 pp.). This book provides a lucid and authoritative summary of the present state of knowledge in biochemical and medical re- search on vitamins, and is a rich source of information, espe- cially for readers interested in the medical, pharmaceutical and biochemical aspects. As in the German version, this

convenient and attractive book contains a separate compre- hensive chapter (thirteen altogether) on each of the vitamins and their derivatives.

The introduction examines in a general way the topic of vitamins. Historical aspects are discussed, and an overview is presented of where vitamins are found, the need for them, and their biological functions. This chapter is enhanced by clear illustrations in color relating to the individual vitamins.

Next come a series of chapters devoted to the individual vitamins and vitamin derivatives. In accordance with the usual sub-division of the topic, the first four chapters deal with the fat-soluble vitamins (1. Vitamin A and its Provita- mins; 2. Vitamin D; 3. Vitamin E; 4. Vitamin K). These are followed by nine chapters on the water-soluble vitamins (5. Thiamine, Vitamin B, , Aneurine; 6. Vitamin B,: Riboflavin and its Bioactive Variants; 7. Niacin: Nicotinic Acid, Nicoti- namide; 8. Vitamin B,; 9. Folic Acid and Unconjugated Pteridines; 10. Biotin; 11. Pantothenic Acid; 12. Vitamin B I Z ; 13. Vitamin C). These thirteen comprehensive and in- formation-packed chapters on the individual vitamins (each with about 60 to 80 pages of text) all follow a similar con- struction. Each chapter treats (mainly from a medical and biochemical standpoint) the following aspects: history, nomenclature, stereochemistry and structure, synthesis and chemical reactions, vitamin analogs and antagonists, biosyn- thesis, stability, physical properties, separation and purifica- tion, analysis and standardization, biochemical functions, metabolization, transport and storage in the human body, pathological symptoms of vitamin deficiency, etc. A compre- hensive bibliography is provided a t the end of each chapter. The clarity of presentation of the information is helped by a well-balanced choice of clearly arranged tables and by care- fully prepared figures and chemical formula schemes.

The work is rounded off by a supplement giving references to the more recent literature (1984 to 1986), mainly on med- ical topics, and a lengthy but clearly arranged subject index.

Like the original German version, this lucidly written book is an excellent and comprehensive source of up-to-date information on the biochemical and physiological aspects of vitamins; it is mainly suitable for use by medical scientists, biologists, biochemists, pharmaceutical chemists, and all chemists with medical or biochemical interests. It also shows that, contrary to what many people think, the subject of vitamins is a highly productive field of research. From the chemist's point of view the work would be even more valu- able if it included a more detailed treatment of the chemical aspects of vitamins research (chemical structure, reactivity, synthetic methods); nevertheless the book is highly recom- mended.

Bernhard Kruufler [NB 992 IE] Laboratorium fur Organische Chemie

der ETH Zurich (Switzerland)

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