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Summary: I don't believe it...
Review: ...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.
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Summary: My Bible.
Review: Agree whole-heartedly with Sundar; this book is my professional bible. One of the best aspects are the extensive references included on every page, which saves hours in the library! Heartily recommended.
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Summary: 3 Cheers for March!
Review: As a big fan of the 4th edition, I jumped for joy when the 5th edition came out. I purchased it immediately, and I was not disappointed. It's hard to imagine beating the comprehensiveness of the past editions, but somehow Jerry has done it again! Certainly there is a lot of redundancy, but there are so many more reactions and references added that March's 5th is another must have for any serious organic chemist.
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Summary: New edition well worth purchasing!!
Review: As a big fan of the 4th edition, I jumped for joy when the 5th edition came out. I purchased it immediately, and I was not disappointed. It's hard to imagine beating the comprehensiveness of the past editions, but somehow Jerry has done it again! Certainly there is a lot of redundancy, but there are so many more reactions and references added that March's 5th is another must have for any serious organic chemist.
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Summary: March's Advanced Organic Review by a user
Review: As usual, March's brings tens of thousands of reactions and structures to the desktop. While used as a text by graduate courses everywhere in the US, it remains one of my favorite desktop references as a working chemist. For a chemist doing analytical, physical, environmental, or nearly any kind of chemistry that deals with organic reactions and/or molecules at one time or another, you can barely afford to be without it, unless you work at a library. Best of all, March's gives you an excellent set of references for more depth on any reaction. Just the same, the mechanistic side tends to be a bit short or sometimes not illustrated as well as elsewhere. Also, the paper is way too thin, giving bleed through if I copy it for reference to give someone else when trying to prove or illustrate a point. Its also a bit fragile and sometimes harder to read because of that. It really should be better paper and two volumes by now. Softcopy would be even better. I haven't used this new edition enough to be certain, but I think there are more typos and so forth in it than I remember seeing in my earlier edition. Just the same, it is extremely useful and packs a lot of info. into a small package. Which I had it in softcopy, though. It has saved my several trips to the library in the month I've had the new edition.
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Summary: Indispensable
Review: For a synthetic organic chemist, March's Advanced Organic Chemistry is a fantastic tool to get you started in the right direction. If you are curious about the various reagents that can be used for a reaction that you have in mind, March quickly leads you with two indexes to the desired information in heavily documented and succinct detail. I won't say that this is the only book that you will need, but with this book and a few notable others, as well as a nicely stocked university periodicals section, you will be well on your way to having a large chunk of organic knowledge at your fingertips. It's fantastic if a set of reaction conditions are just on the tip of your tongue and you need a reminder. It will also help you out if you are lost and need a brainstorming session. I can't tell you how many times it has helped me out of a jam.
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Summary: 3 Cheers for March!
Review: He's done it again! For those of you who thought March just couldn't get any better, take a look at the new edition. With my first use, it's already saved me the meager purchase price in time and energy. The references are stupendous and the chemistry looks so much better than the previous version. 3 Cheers for March!
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Summary: the most authoritative and comprehensive work of its kind
Review: 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.
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Summary: An investment that'll last you for years.
Review: I bought a copy of this text (2nd Ed) after finishing my sophomore year of college, and it proved to be the best single investment I've ever made in chemistry. I used it so often, I had to duct-tape the book together.
I think the happiest moment of my career was when my name appeared in the index of a later edition. Anyway, buy it and treasure it.
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Summary: Essential reference for an organic chemist
Review: I cannot believe nobody has written any comment about this book here yet. It is an excellent reference that belongs in any organic chemist's library. I would highly recommend it for any advanced undergrad, grad student or any practicing organic chemist.
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