This unusual collection of 49 essays gives an overview of the trends and accomplishments of synthetic organic chemistry in recent years. Unique in its approach, it deals with almost every aspect of modern synthesis.

The first part of the book describes methods and reagents, with particular emphasis on rapidly developing organometallic and biooriented procedures. In the second part, these tools are applied to the syntheses of interesting target compounds and natural compounds with remarkable physiological properties. Mechanistic discussions and retrosynthetic analyses are included. More than 1000 up-to-date references help the reader to pursue the topics highlighted here.

This book gives both the active researcher and the advanced student insight into the competitive atmosphere, creativity, and resourcefulness so characteristic of organic synthesis today.