BOOKS

4510 � WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, D-69451 Weinheim, 2001 1433-7851/01/4023-4510 $ 17.50+.50/0 Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, No. 23

task. Nevertheless, it must be mentionedthat some aspects are missing: I wouldhave expected to find contributions onab initio molecular dynamics calcula-tions, on cluster methods, and a separateone on the calculation of ªpropertiesº.For many experimental chemists thecalculation of molecular properties is ofcentral importance.

Thomas StrassnerInstitut für Anorganische ChemieTechnische Universität München

Munich (Germany)

DNA Arrays. Methods and Proto-cols. Edited by Jang B. Rampal.(Series: Methods in Molecular Biol-ogy, Vol. 170.) Humana Press, Toto-wa 2001. 264 pp., hardcover $ 89.50(ca. E 98).ÐISBN 0-896-03822-X

The aim of this book is to give anoverview of the current situation inDNA microarray technology, and toprovide protocols that will help newstarters in the field to set up systemsfor DNA array analysis, even in labora-tories without special facilities for suchwork. The research field of DNA micro-arrays, which is still quite new and has alarge interdisciplinary element, is de-scribed in 17 chapters by authors drawnalmost exclusively from industry. Thisreflects the commercial importance ofmicroarray technology, which is furtheremphasized by a chapter giving details ofthe companies engaged in the field anddiscussing the commercial prospects. Achapter on ethical aspects discussessome of the questions that arise, suchas the possibility of compulsory DNAdiagnostic tests, the need for individualdata protection in view of the ease withwhich comprehensive genetic data canbe communicated electronically, and thepossibility that insurance companies andemployers may discriminate againsthigher risk groups. Other chapters deal-ing with more general aspects are theintroduction by Edwin Southern, thebrief reviews of confocal fluorescenceanalysis of DNA arrays, and the chapteron bioinformatics technology, whichmust assume a key role in the processingof the enormous quantities of raw dataon hybridization analyses.

Several chapters are devoted to thepreparation of nucleic acid arrays. Forexample, one of these describes thesynthesis of DNA arrays by photolithog-raphy. It includes laboratory recipes andNMR data for phosphoramidites withphotolabile protecting groups attached,reproduced from the original publica-tions, but one may question how inter-esting and relevant these are from apractical standpoint, as few laboratoriesare likely to have facilities for thelaborious photolithography. The prepa-ration of gel-immobilized nucleic acidarrays is a simpler procedure. However,the chapters on this technique onlydescribe the coupling chemistry involvedin a very general way, and refer one tothe original papers for details. Also theydo not give protocols for using sucharrays, but only schematic diagrams andliterature references. Two chapters de-scribe the preparation of DNA arrays byink-jet and printing methods. Here thereare detailed protocols for some of theprocedures, but for the average user theyare likely to be of little help, as they arevery specific to the particular microdis-pensers and automatic plotters referredto. That criticism applies even more tothe chapter on automated genotypeclassification using mass spectrometryequipment made by Sequenom of theUSA.

Six chapters are devoted to describingpractical applications of DNA arrays.They contain some useful and widelyapplicable protocols for the hybridiza-tion analysis of RNA and for analyzingnucleic acids by tandem hybridization;these methods could also be useful forsome other related investigations. Thechapter on ªDNA Sequencing by Hy-bridizationº (SBH) describes three var-iants of the technique, which is stillunder development. The purpose of theSBH method is to apply DNA arrays tostudy known gene sequences and muta-tions, or even to sequence unknown newgenes. Several protocols for SBH aregiven. The chapter on the preparation ofoligonucleotide arrays in searching foreffective antisense reagents is especiallyuseful, as it not only gives some gener-ally applicable laboratory protocols forprocedures such as the surface activationof glass supports, but also contains de-tailed diagrams of apparatus and reac-tion vessels. The chapters on applica-

tions of DNA microarrays for determin-ing HLA types and for gene expressionanalysis also contain some useful exper-imental details.

The appearance of this book on thetechnology of DNA microarrays is cer-tainly to be welcomed, as the subject iscomplex and very few well-proven meth-ods are yet available. Unfortunately,however, many of the protocols givenhere are described in a superficial way,and would only be useful to experts whoalready have a detailed knowledge of thesubject. The book by itself is unlikely togive readers a clear overall impression ofthis area of research. The arrangementof the subject matter within the chaptersis not systematic, and adequate cross-references between chapters are notgiven. The literature coverage extendsonly up to 1999, and consequently doesnot include the most recent develop-ments in this rapidly moving field, sothat some parts of the book are alreadyout of date. Nevertheless, it should be ofinterest to postgraduate students andpostdoctoral researchers who have be-gun work on DNA arrays and need abroader view of the field, together withuseful tips for solving practical problems.

Christof M. NiemeyerBiotechnologie und Molekulare Genetik

Universität Bremen (Germany)

Inorganic and Organometallic Poly-mers. By Ronald D. Archer. JohnWiley & Sons Inc., New York 2001.xii � 247 pp., hardcover £ 64.50.ÐISBN 0-471-24187-3

This book by Ronald D. Archer re-minds us that as well as organic polymersthe area of inorganic and organometallicpolymers is attracting increasing inter-est. On page 2 the author defines in-organic polymers as polymers with in-organic repeating units in the backbone,and organometallic polymers as thosewith a backbone alternating between ametallic element and an organic linkage.But the book also describes examples ofpolymeric metal complexes in which ametal forms bonds with, for example,oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen. But these arenot organometallic polymers. The authorforgot to point out that a field called

BOOKS

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, No. 23 � WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, D-69451 Weinheim, 2001 1433-7851/01/4023-4511 $ 17.50+.50/0 4511

ªmacromolecular metal complexesº cov-ers all these kinds of polymers, includingalso those in which a metal is bondedcovalently, coordinatively, or ionically toa polymer chain or network (only con-sidered briefly on page 19). Macromo-lecular metal complexes are treated insome books, several reviews, and regularIUPAC conferences. But this is nevermentioned in the book. Only very fewexamples of the now extensive literatureon three-dimensional coordination poly-mers are given (page 15), and the well-known polymeric phthalocyanines arenot treated. Because polymeric metalcomplexes are also treated in the book, amore appropriate title would be ªInor-ganic, Organometallic and Metal Com-plex Polymersº.

Chapter 1 is entitled ªInorganic Poly-mers and Classification Schemesº. Asalready mentioned, not only inorganicand organometallic polymers but alsoexamples of other types of combinationsof polymers and metals are given, whichare classified in different ways as fol-lows: classification by connectivity(number of atoms attached to a metal);classification by dimensionality (1-, 2-,3-dimensional structures); classificationbetween Type I (metal atoms as part ofthe polymer backbone), Type II (ligandof a metal complex as part of thepolymer backbone), and Type III (metalanchored to a polymer backbone). Thelatter three-type classification was notintroduced by the author mentioned onpage 17 but by me in a book published in1996. Archer gives a further classifica-tion into metal-containing polymers(metal coordination polymers, organo-metallic polymers, metallocene poly-mers) and main group inorganic poly-mers (polysiloxanes, polysilanes, poly-meric phosphacenes, polyheterophos-phazene, polyoxothiazenes). All thesesystems of classification are confusingbecause examples are distributed underthem. It would be better to treat exam-ples of metals in polymers using only onemethod of classification, and then tomention briefly that other classificationsexist.

Chapter 2 treats ªInorganic PolymerSynthesisº (a better title would be: Syn-thesis of Inorganic, Organometallic, andMetal Complex Polymers!). This chap-ter is subdivided with examples of step-growth synthesis, chain polymerization,

ring-opening polymerization, reductivecoupling and redox polymerization re-actions, and condensation oligomeriza-tions/polycondensations. It is very val-uable to get information about methodsfor the preparation of compounds withthe combination of metals in polymers.But some important results are missing.For example, electropolymerization ismentioned only with thiophene-contain-ing Schiff bases and polypyridyl com-plexes on page 65. But numerous papersand reviews exist describing the electro-polymerization of suitable substitutedporphyrins and phthalocyanines (mainlypublished in the period 1990 ± 2000).

Chapter 3 describes various methodsfor characterization: determination ofmolecular mass, gel permeation chroma-tography, end-group analysis, determi-nation of thermal parameters, spectro-scopic methods (MS, NMR, ESR, UV/Vis/NIR, IR, Raman, Mössbauer,X-ray). This 80-page chapter containsvery useful examples of the analysis ofpolymers containing metals. But in mostcases the fundamentals of these methodsare also treated over several pages,which is not necessary here and doesnot contribute to the aim of the book.

Lastly Chapter 4 concentrates on thepractical chemistry of such polymers.This means in general the properties ofthese materials and some applications.Inorganic elastomers, interface couplingreactions, dental polymers/adhesives,medical polymers, high temperature poly-mers, lithographic resists, preceramics,conductivity NLO, luminescent poly-mers, magnetic materials, and catalystsare mentioned. This chapter is veryuseful, even though some propertiesare missing, such as electrocatalysis (forfuel cells) and photoelectrochemistry.Most chapters describe only very fewexamples, e.g., for catalysts, conductingmaterials, and porphyrins in energy orelectron transfer.

Some criticisms have been mentionedat the beginning of this review and indiscussing the main chapters of thisbook. Summarizing now, the book pres-ents a good overview with selectedexamples. Each chapter contains someexercises. The formulas and figures areclear and free of errors. Therefore thisbook is valuable for students in ad-vanced courses of macromolecularchemistry and material science. Experts

in the field of metals in polymers arebetter served by more extensive booksand reviews. Unfortunately, books andreviews of this field are only rarelymentioned in this work.

Dieter WöhrleInstitut für Organische ChemieUniversität Bremen (Germany)

Fundamentals of ElectroanalyticalChemistry. By Paul M. S. Monk.(Series: Analytical Techniques inthe Sciences.) John Wiley & SonsInc., New York 2001. 361 pp., soft-cover £ 34.95.ÐISBN 0-471-88140-6

This series of books is intended as aresource for distance-learning of analyt-ical techniques. From that point of view,the book fulfills its aims. It consists of tenchapters describing the main techniquesfor which equipment is commerciallyavailable. Each chapter contains self-assessment questions so that the readercan frequently check his or her under-standing of the methods presented; theanswers to these questions are given atthe end of the book in a condensedformat.

The book starts with an explanation ofelectrochemical nomenclature andmethodology, which follows the IUPACrecommendations. However, the authorhas mostly chosen the ªnon-Cartesianºconvention of plotting negative poten-tials to the right and positive potentialsto the left. This so-called ªpolarographicconventionº or ªAmerican conventionºshould be banned from modern text-books, as it is a potential source ofconfusion for non-electrochemists. In-deed, the book contains current versuspotential curves where sometimes thecathodic current is given as positive andsometimes as negative.

As a matter of fact, even the authorgets confused, as for example onpage157, where one reads ªthe oxidationoccurs on the forward scan of the CV,with the oxidation taking place duringthe reverse partº. The correct textshould have been ªreduction occurswhen the current is negative [althoughshown as positive, p.158], and oxidationwhen the current is positiveº.