K. Oikawa,Trace analysis of atmospheric samples : Kodansha,Tokyo and Halstead Press (J. Wiley), New York, 1977, price $28.60, £16.90

An extremely simple method is described for semiquantitative determination of various substances, based on comparison of the speed of decolorization of coloured reaction products of the test substance on filter paper. Time measurements are unnecessary, because the unknown and two suitable standards are observed simultaneously on the same paper. The substances can be applied either as spots or as ring-shaped segments prepared with a ring oven. Substances such as Ni, Cu, Fe(III), iodide and resorcinol can be determined in the microgram range.     

Organic Reactions : Volume 23, W.G. Dauben,editor-in-chief,John Wiley & Sons,New York, 1976, vii + 520 pp., $32.45, £ 19.75.

M(R)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ compounds (M = Rh, Ir; R = Me, p-tolyl, p-methoxyphenyl, C₆F₅, Ph₃C and Ph) have been prepared by oxidative addition to a p⁸ halogen or a d¹⁰ anionic complex followed by electrochemical reduction.