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Name Reactions is an alphabetized collection of more than
300 organic mechanisms employing the curved arrow formalism. The original
references
are supplemented by modern variations and developments through 2001.
There is no text, only references to the original literature from as
early as the 19th century, interspersed with short commentary.
This is
an excellent practice book for arrow pushing and learning organic name
reactions as encountered in graduate school. (The author notes he
began accruing name reactions at precisely that time.) Stereochemistry
is depicted clearly, but there is some muddle due to mechanistic arrows
overlapping with structures. In general, arrows are accurate right
down to equilibrium versus unidirectional reactions.
Li’s book contains
reactions of all mechanistic classes: free radicals, cationic, and anionic
as well as carbenoid mechanisms. Reactions
such as sigmatropic shifts and the Diels–Alder reaction are addressed.
Heterocycle synthesis is strongly represented and some reagents, for
example, the Burgess reagent and Davis’ chiral oxaziridine, are
included. The book is nicely balanced, containing modern-day reactions
for assembly of stereocomplex molecules. Reactions such as the Corey–Bakshi–Shibata
reduction are analyzed.
This book is a good reference text and fills a
void that has existed for some time. It is both an excellent tool
for learning and a good reference source.
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