amines, nitroso compounds, imines, diazo compounds, diazirines, etc. The tables and figures provided are helpful for understanding the rich chemistry of these derivatives.
Chapter 9 deals with the synthesis, properties, and reactions of polyfluoroarenes. The wide variety of reactions of polyfluoroarene derivatives is described in a series of figures. A particular emphasis is given to nucleophilic aromatic substitutions involving Meisenheimer-type complexes, using a wide variety of nucleophiles. The discussion includes polyfluoro-heteroaromatic compounds. Reactions of electrophilic reagents, free radicals, carbenes, and nitrenes are also covered. The preparation and reactions of perfluoroarynes are also discussed.
Finally, a brief last chapter (Chapter 10) is centered on the organometallic derivatives of fluorocarbon-based systems. Not only lithium-and magnesium-based derivatives, but also those of zinc, mercury, boron, aluminum, and cadmium, are covered. More recently developed silicon-and tin-based reagent systems are briefly touched on. Analogous transition-metal chemistry based on copper, ruthenium, and palladium is also mentioned.
Overall, the layout of the book is traditional, reasonable, and useful, despite its limited length. The extensive tables and figures are quite informative and well-referenced to the original literature. A general index (8 pp.) is included. The work is not intended to be comprehensive, but it is reasonably thorough, and can serve as a well-organized textbook of organofluorine chemistry at an advanced graduate level. The work also complements the monograph Organofluorine Compounds: Chemistry and Applications, by T. Hiyama (Springer