Elementary Organic Spectroscopy

Methods based on relationships between structural features and physical properties are now making an ever increasing contribution to organic chemistry, not only in the elucidation of structure, but also in analytical and preoperative work. The advantages of these methods are obvious particularly in the study of tautomeric, conformation and other equilibrium. It is, therefore, not surprising that the growing availability of physical methods has altered both the scope and pace of organic chemistry. Many recent successes in the determination of the structures of complex natural products would have remained out of reach without them and their contribution in widening our understanding of the reactivity of organic compounds can hardly be overestimated. This appreciation of the power of these methods prompted the author to venture on this elementary introduction to the absorption techniques in organic spectroscopy. The book is written specifically for the undergraduate and it is hoped, that it will render valuable help to the postgraduate students as well. The primary aim of this introductory book is to provide a broad survey of the methods and special care is taken on the application of these methods on selected representative molecules which will give clear insight into the subject. The text will be found to be graded from known to unknown and from very simple to difficult problems: The worked examples and unsolved problems with their answers in the index have been very carefully selected to cover as many as possible of the important aspects of the subject matter in the space available. It is hoped that the book will be warmly received and will prove beneficial to the students and the teachers alike. I simply fumble for words to express my heavy debt of gratitude towards Dr. O.P. Vig, Professor and Head, Department of Chemistry, Punjab University, Chandigarh, who was gracious enough for sparing time out of his busy schedule to go through the book and then writing foreword to it. It has, of course, enhanced its value and prestige. I express my gratitude to my colleagues and friends, who, by their encouragement, interest and advice helped me to write this book. My sincere thanks are particularly due to Dr. I.R. Trehan, Reader in Organic Chemistry, Punjab University, Chandigarh, who took all the pains in reading the whole of the manuscript and gave valuable suggestions. Thanks are also due to Sh. G.D. Sharma, Head of the Post-Graduated Deptt. of Chemistry, D.A.V. College, Jalandhar, Dr. K.D. Sharma, lecturer in Chemistry, Govt. College, Hoshiarpur, and Sh. M.L. Sehgal, lecturer in Chemistry, D.A.V. College, Jalandhar, for making valuable criticisms. I am grateful to Sh. Shyam Lal Gupta, Managing Director, S. Chand and Company Ltd., New Delhi and Sh. S.K. Moudgil, Branch Manager, Jalandhar, for the interest they took during the preparation of the book. Finally I thanks my wife, Mrs. Saroj Sharma who inspired me during the preparation of the text. I will welcome any criticism of the subject matter and style for further improvement of this new enterprise.