Very pure trialkylindium compounds were prepared by E. Todt and R . DStzer. They fused technical In (containing up to 5 %, impurities) with technical Mg in an atmosphere of hydrogen. Fine turnings of this alloy (or niixtures of In and Mg) were covered with ether and treated with alkyl halides under a blanket of specially purified nitrogen or argon. After the reaction, the trialkylindium compounds can be distilled off as etherates; a second distillation is usually suffi- cient to remove the ether. The etherate of trimethylindium can be decomposed by distillation with a little benzene. Trimethyl- indium (1) forms colorless crystals (b.p. 66-67 OC/12 mm;

m.p. 88.4 “C) and is complelcly stable to light and heat, even at 250 “C. The triethyl, tri-n-propyl, tri-isopropyl (2), tri-n- butyl, tri-isobutyl, and tri-s-butyl (3) derivatives of I n are faintly viscous, colorless liquids; (2) and (3) are yellow. All these compounds ignite spontaneously in air and react vio- lently with water. With the exception of 1/), they are decom- posed by light and by heating to 200”C, or less, the metal being deposited. Indium purified in this manner is suitable for the preparation of All1 I3v compounds for senii-conduct- ors. / Z. anorg. allg. Chem. 32 / , 120, (1963) / -Kr.

[Rd 6081170 IE]

BOOK REVIEWS

German-English Chemical Terminology. An 1 ntroduction to Chemistry in English and German, by H. Fromherz and A. King. Verlag Chcmie GmbH., WeinheimIBergstr. 1963.4th Edit., XX1,588 pp.,linen, DM48:- (about$l2.--).

The ability to read chemical literature in a foreign language i s now a necessity for students. Any knowledge of languages brought from school, however, has not normally been ac- quired from scientific texts, and the specialised modes of ex- pression of the latter are therefore often found very difficult to understand. Here the “Introduction to Chemistry in English and German” offers valuable help. The basic idea of the book is as simple as it is fortunate. German and Eng- lish texts are printed facing one another on adjacent pages, each technical term is in italics, and page subdivision in the margin facilitates orientation. The whole is a condensed textbook of chemistry and its related subjects, concluding with a list of abbreviations, a subject index in English, a guide to the pronunciation of English technical terms, and a subject index in German. The agreement between the German and English phraseology in the text is good - except for a few mistakes -, and as close as the style of each language permits. In the choice of material and in its clear and compact presen- tation, the authors have found just as fortunate a touch as in their translations of relevant sections into the other language. Any chapter of the text may be selected and read on its own and thus a feeling gained for modes of expression in English and German scientific works. The book can also be used just as well as a two-language dictionary - it has over 10000 ter- minological entries. It is this twofold function which makes the volume so especially uscful for students, scientists, and

H . Grunewald [NB 26/52 IE] translators.

Progress in Drug Research Fortschritte der Arzneimittel- forschung Progrks de recherches pharmaceutiques, edit. by E. Jucker, Vol. IV, Birkhauser, Basel-Stuttgart 1962. 1st Edit., 606 pp., bound, DM 118.-- (about $30.-).

The fourth volume of the series begun in 1949 [l] again presents detailed reviews by expert authorities on current problems in drug research. In the first 212 pages H . Herbsl describes “New Developments in the Field of Therapeutic Organic Sulfur Compounds.” The first section of the article is devoted to sulfur-containing drugs and antibiotics, while in the second, orgdnotrophically active organic sulfur com- pounds are dealt with. Besides the chemistry of the com-

pounds, the methods of synthesis of the most important representatives are given, and the mechanism of action, fate in the organism, and methods of detection are briefly men- tioned; 1958 references to patents and journals give access to the original articles. N . J . Harper then describes “Drug Latentiation” in 74 pages. This new term is used to describe the chemical modification (in the laboratory) of a biologically active compound into an inactive form which is transformed in vivo into the active substance. The term also covers modifications simply of physico-chemical properties that cause changes in resorption, distribution, and metabolism of the compound in question without influencing its activity. These transformations are illustrated by numerous examples and can also stimulate improvements of existing preparations with regard to re- sorption, compatibility, etc. (059 literature references). In the next chapter (54 pages), E. Schlittler, J . Druey, and A . Murxer report on “Antihypertensive Agents.” It is sub- divided into sympatholytics, parasympatholytics, ganglion blocking agents, hydrazinophthalazines, Ruuwolfiu alkaloids. Veratrum alkaloids, guanidines and amidoximes, saluretics, and other compounds. By giving numerous examples the con- nection between constitution and activity is also suggested (191 literature references). The “Connection between Con- stitution and Activity in Local Anaesthetics” is treated in 47 pages by H . Crusshof: Starting out from the basic struc- ture, lipophilic residue intcrmediate chains with an elec- tronegative link ~. hydrophilic residue, the influence of each ofthese parts on the activity is described. Numerous examples in 29 tables are an aid to easy understanding (121 references). The last chapter by J . C. Arcos and M. Arcos deals with the problem of “Molecular Geometry and Mechanisms of Ac- tion of Chemical Carcinogens” (174 pages). The major portion is devoted to the relationship between structural parameters and carcinogenic activity in the various groups of carcinogenic compounds. Further sections deal with the possible types of combination of carcinogens with tissue constituents and finally with submicroscopic cell structures (876 literature references). The layout of the book is exemplary; numerous structural formulae make the reading of it much easier. An especially welcome feature is its 22-page comprehensive subject index covering all the reports.

0. Schaumann [NB 19/48 IE]

[l] Vols.11 and 111, cf.Angew. Chem. internat. Edit. 1,607 (1962).

Registered names, trademarks, etc. used in this journal, even without specific indication thereof, are not t o be considered unprotected by law. 0 1963 by Verlag Chemie, GmbH. - Printed in Germany by Druckerei Winter, Heidelberg. All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, e .g . by photoprint, microfilm, or any other means, without written permission from the publishers. Editorial Office: Ziegelhauser Landstrasse 35, Heidelberg, Germany, Telephone 24975, Telex 04-61 855, Cable address: Chemieredaktion Heidelberg. Chief Editor: W. Foerst . Editors: F. Boschke and H. Grunewald. Publishers: Verlag Chemie GmbH. (President Eduard Kreuahage), Pappelallee 3 , Weinheim/Bergstr., Germany, and Academic Press Inc. (President Walrer J. Johnson), 11 1 Fifth Avenue, New York 3, N.Y., U.S.A., and Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W. 1, England. Correspondence concerning advertisements should be addressed toVerlag Chemie, GmbH. (Advertising Manager W.Thiel), Pappelallee 3, Weinheid Ilcrgstr., Germany, Telephone Weinheim 3635, Telex 04-65 516. Cable address: Chemieverlag Weinheimbergstr.

564 Angew. Chem. intrrnut. Edit. 1 Vol. 2 (1963) 1 No. 9