Reactions of heterocycles

Heterocyclic chemistry at a glance

John Joule and Keith Mills

Oxford: Blackwell 2007 | Pp160 | £17.99 | ISBN 1 405 13918 8

Reviewed by Andrew Parsons

This book is aimed at second-, third- and fourth-year chemistry undergraduates. The study of heterocycles is an important topic in organic chemistry and this text aims to provide an accessible overview of the area. 

Fundamental points on heterocyclic nomenclature, structures and common reaction types are concisely highlighted in the first three chapters. Reactions of the major classes of aromatic heterocycles are then covered (including reactions of pyridines, pyrroles, indoles and furans) and there is a short section on non-aromatic heterocycles. No practical details (such as solvent, reaction time and yield) or references to the original literature are reported, so that students 'can concentrate on the chemistry in question'.