reference

I agree with the other reviewers. I'd like to add that this book is also phenomenally useful as a reference for all chemists, not just organic chemists. It is undoubtedly the most complete work in terms of useful organization of cited references going back nearly a century. Its usefulness has led me to dedicate a recent article to Jerry March. Since Jerry's death in 1997, it will be up to Wiley to find a suitable coauthor to update this volume. I can only hope for a choice as good as Jerry. Along with Cotton & Wilkinson's Adv. Inorg. Chem., Jerry's book is a must for every chemist's ready-reference library.

...after more than twenty years, this book is still in print! When I graduated in organic chemistry in Switzerland, almost 15 years ago, earlier editions of this book were already much in use, almost a must, both indispensable and useful, as close to a reference book as it can get, based on a clear presentation of the actual and essential knowledge. Both wide in scope and very comprehensive. Things haven't really changed, now have they?

Enjoy the clarity and the good segmentation of the state of the art with numerous good and insightful examples. Also contains a great deal of valuable references.

This book is worth buying and consulting, both for a student as well as for a practicing chemist. Says it all.

I paid more for my 4th ed. new, and find it to be worth even more. It is not a cookbook per se, but it is a very comprehensive textbook that details general reactions by functional group. It outlines every way known to remove, add to, or otherwise modify every functional group. There is as much commentary as is needed, if not more, and every pathway is mentioned regardless of how exotic or primitive and low-yielding. The corresponding OS synth refs for specific cpds. are given for each type of reaction, along with a total of 15,000 other refs in footnotes. This was cutting-edge in 92, with much updating of the 3rd ed. The index will take you to the section that shows how to make the manipulations you want - if it doesn't, it probably can't be done.