The Chemistry of the Fullerenes

Human beings have been fascinated by symmetry as far back as the earliest civilizations. In fact, symmetry and its corollary, order, appear to be the most fundamental pastimes of our species. It is no wonder, then, that when the sixty-atom molecular carbon allotrope burst on the physical science scene in 1985, with its truncated icosahedron structure, it commanded the attention it received. The fascination grew almost explosively when C60 became available in bulk in 1990. Soon thereafter, a number of unusual properties sui generis to the fullerenes were discovered in quick succession. Dr. Hirsch reviews these briefly. Though the synthetic fullerenes have been with us for only three years, the scientific articles based on them number in the thousands. It is therefore important and necessary to have a source of information which summarizes the most important and fundamental aspects of the organic and organometallic chemistry of the fullerenes. Dr. Hirsch is already well known for his important contributions to the field and is uniquely qualified to write what will become the primary source of information for the practicing organic and organometallic chemist. The book is logically arranged and information is easy to retrieve. The style lends itself to effortless reading and to learning more about the chemical properties of a family of molecules that constitute new building blocks for novel architectures in the still expanding universe of synthetic chemistry. This book will not only be found in university libraries but also on bookshelves of chemists interested in the art and science of structure and property manipulation by synthesis. Dr. Hirsch's The Chemistry of the Fullerenes is a genuine, single author book. It is the first, and so far the best, monograph in the field. It stands out because its quality surpass that of other, multiauthor compendia, that preceded it.-Fred Wudl, Santa Barbara