Guys, I need your take on this subject.
I'm thinking of upgrading my personal library by a solid reference work on name reactions. I've been thinking about buying any of those three positions:
1) B. Mundy, M. Ellerd, F. Favaloro "Name reactions and reagents in organic synthesis"
2) L. Kurti, B. Czako "Strategic applications of named reactions in organic synthesis"
3) J. Li "Name reactions: a collection of detailed mechanisms".
Since this position would serve me mostly as a reference material to primary publications, but also as a revision tool, several factors are of strategic importance when it comes to choosing the book:
- amount and variety of references to primary publications
- clarity of mechanisms drawn
- spectrum of the subject covered (how many name reactions and reagents are there in the book, applications in total synthesis, examples, variations etc.)
Price-wise all three of those books cost about the same amount of money, but I can't decide which one to buy. My library has only the first position which I already held in my hands, but if you have any of those books I would be glad if you could share some thoughts about them which could help me make my decision. As I am on a budget (Ph.D students have it tough) I can only afford one of those books. So, I'm looking fora position that is the most comprehensive of all.
I know that Z. Wang is publishing a 4 volume set on name reactions this year and that book would be THE MOST comprehensive book of all, but according to Wiley the price of that beauty would be around 400 pounds (which is way out of my range).
So' I think I'm down to those three possibilities. Please let me know, which one would be the best choice in your opinion.