This book is a collection of six topics concerning the use of macrocyclic ligands in analytical chemistry applications, written by eminent Russian experts in the field. This edition is a translation of a 1993 Russian language edition that has been revised and updated. The work covers only the synthetic macrocycles, including the crown ethers, azacrown ethers, macrocyclic Schiff bases, and thiacrown ethers. The topics covered include synthesis of macrocyclic compounds, complexation and selectivity, solvent extraction of metals with macrocyclic reagents and its analytical applications, sorption and chromatography, ion-selective electrodes, and separation and determination of organic compounds. This book is intendedand will be very usefulfor workers in the field of analytical chemistry using macrocyclic chelating agents. It contains a first-rate summary of all areas of research in this field, and as such it is the first place anyone working in the field will want to look for background material.

The first chapter, by A. A. Formanovskii and I. V. Kikhura, briefly reviews the general methods for the synthesizing macrocyclic compounds. Pertinent examples are given of the synthesis of each class of macrocyclic covered in the book. The second chapter, by I. V. Pletnev, gives a brief introduction to macrocyclic coordination chemistry that is relevant to analytical practice. The selectivity and efficiency of complexation are stressed.

The third chapter, by M. K. Beklemishev, S. G. Dmitrienko, and N. V. Isakova, covers the rather broad subject of solvent extraction. After dealing with the theoretical and equilibria aspects of the extraction process, an excellent summary of metal ion extraction from the aqueous to organic phase is given. The organization of the application part of the chapter is by the type of macrocyclic extractant. There are copious examples, and this chapter has 483 references. My only criticism of this chapter concerns the absence of a figure showing what structures correspond with the authors' shorthand notation. For example, I am uncertain about tert-butyl-CH₁₄C₄, listed in Table 3.5. This chapter does cover well the extraction of the main classes of metal ions and will be a great help to those working in this important analytical area and especially to those getting started.

Chapter 4, by N. A. Pasekova and E. I. Morosanova, discusses the sorption recovery of metal ions and the chromatographic separation of their mixtures. The applications part covers the main areas of chromatography, including gas chromatography. The fifth chapter is by L. K. Shpigun and R. D. Tsingarelli, on ion-selective electrodes. The various macrocycles used in electrodes are clearly shown. The last chapter, by I. V. Pletnev and I. I. Torocheshnikova, covers the separation and determination of organic compounds. The authors provide a good introduction to the host­guest chemistry of macrocycles with a variety of organic guest compounds.

This book is well written. The English usage is very good. V. Yu. Nagy, the translator, did a particularly good job in his translation. There are the usual misspellings of names. Nobel laureate J.-M. Lehn will smile at the Lenh rendition, as will our coauthor C. A. Rouse when she sees Ronse. However, these misspellings are few and far between. Editor Yu. A. Zolotov indicates in the preface that significant addition of pertinent data was made in this edition. However, there are relatively few references from 1992 through 1996. The solvent extraction chapter contains only twelve 1992­1996 references in a total of 483. Nevertheless, this book is an extremely valuable source for workers in the field and it has all areas of research on macrocyclic compounds in analytical chemistry under one cover.