Milan Randic, Marjana Novic, and Dejan Plavsic: Solved and Unsolved Problems of Structural Chemistry

Abstract

problems may not appear gripping, some even ignorable or esoteric, but it is not hard work to follow the general thread of an argument. In that regard, it provides some traction for the ideas that keep theoreticians awake at night while rarely disturbing the sleep of experimental chemists. Since the topic of this book is a relatively new field (at least in terms of applications), the current book is comprehensive concerning the ideas in play in that field. The authors hope to excite the general scientific community into engaging and applying chemical graph theory in a broader sense to chemical theory. They feel that in the past, they have lacked the support of traditional theoretical chemists and devote a significant space to reputing these opinions. Unless soap operas are of particular interest, those further removed from the discipline, and would suggest that the waring fractions get over it and move on. To me, this was the least worthwhile aspect of the book, but obviously a sensitive issue for the authors. Unless you are particularly interested in theoretical chemistry, it is difficult to see how this book (or probably any other) will attract you into the fold. Fortunately, science is made up of many specialties and allows scientists with different interests to participate in its evolution. The authors may succeed in persuading some of a like mind that discrete mathematics and graph theory represent a new insight into chemical structural problems, but outside this group, converts are likely to be hard to find. For those with a strong interest in the topic of the book, there are some positive attributes to justify purchase. The book is foremost readable, copiously and suitably illustrated, and set out in a logical manner. I found the index to be well prepared, and for most of my needs had no difficulty navigating through the material using the table of contents. Seminal work is adequately cited. The 23 appendices help to keep the general text from getting too dense This book explores the development of discrete mathematics, quantum physics, and chemical graph theory to problems related to quantitative structure–property relationships and graphical bioinformatics. Structural chemistry in this case is the representation of chemical structures by a mathematical description validated by the ability to quantitatively describe some chemical property or feature. It is a book mainly about theory but written in an interesting way. It covers the history and context in which graph theory (largely) was developed, and the challenge in gaining acceptance from theoretical physical chemists. There are remarkably a few equations for a book of this type, and the authors attempt to make their case through the media of text and figures. Since most general readers will find the problems alluded to in the title focused on the abstract side of chemistry, the text is remarkably readable in a story book style. Unless you are a true physical chemist, these