This is part of the Handbook Synthetic Methods of Organometallic and Inorganic Chemistry and deals with synthetic methods for copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium and mercury compounds. Inorganic and organometallic compounds of these metals find wide applications in organic synthesis, medicine, electrochemistry and materials science.
This book contains the experimental procedures for the preparation of a range of inorganic and organometallic compounds of these metals. Experimental procedures are well covered with important physical properties and spectroscopic data together with a selection of important references. Essential instructions on safety precautions, toxicity and air sensitivity of compounds are covered where required.
The volume is generally well produced and the methods are easy to follow but some of the diagrams could be better. However, the authors have generally succeeded in their aim of covering the experimental procedures for basic and important compounds.
Chapter 3, concerning gold complexes, appears authoritative, but the following chapters (i.e. 4, 5 and 6 for zinc, cadmium and mercury respectively) are far from comprehensive. Some important organometallic and metal-organic complexes of these metals are omitted; perhaps most notably, novel compounds developed for the deposition of chalcogenide-containing materials have been overlooked.
Despite its limitations this is useful book for all those involved in preparative organometallic or inorganic chemistry for the elements concerned.