Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198558201 ISBN 13: 9780198558200

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1999

This book for advanced undergraduates covers areas of mechanistic and physical organic chemistry in a non-mathematical way. The topics included are essential in any modern chemistry degree, yet are not included in standard organic chemistry textbooks for undergraduates. The book starts with a consideration of molecular vibrations and intermolecular interactions, and introduces the use of potential energy profiles and reaction maps to describe organic chemical transformations. The relationship between kinetics and organic reaction mechanisms is then explored with special emphasis on the interpretation of activation parameters. The relationship between molecular structure and chemical reactivity, i.e. correlation analysis, is then covered, followed by a chapter on catalysis of organic chemical reactions in solution by small molecules. The treatment of catalysis explores how the molecular structure of compounds determines their reactivity either as substrates or as catalysts. The final chapter is devoted to isotope effects in mechanistic organic chemistry, concentrating on deuterium kinetic isotope effects.

About the Author:

Howard Maskill, Chemistry Department, University of Newcastle upon Tyne N.E. 17 R.U. . Phone 0191 222 7088. email h.maskill@ncl.ac.uk

Review:

"This book for advanced undergraduate students covers areas of mechanistic and physical organic chemistry in a non-mathematical way. The book starts with a consideration of molecular vibrations and intermolecular interactions, and introduces the use of potential energy profiles and reaction maps to describe organic chemical transformations. The relationship between kinetics and organic reaction mechanisms is then explored with special emphasis on the interpretation of activation parameters. The relationship between molecular structure and chemical reactivity is covered, followed by chapters on catalysis of organic chemical reactions and isotope effects in mechanistic organic chemistry. Maskill teaches organic chemistry at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne."--SciTech Book News