The field of transition metal catalysis has experienced incredible growth during the past decade. The reasons for this are obvious when one considers the world's energy problems and the need for new and less energy demanding syntheses of important chemicals. Heterogeneous catalysis has played a major industrial role; however, such reactions are generally not selective and are exceedingly difficult to study. Homogeneous catalysis suffers from on-site engineering difficulties; however, such reactions usually provide the desired selectivity. For example, Monsanto's synthesis of optically-active amino acids employs a chiral homogeneous rhodium diphosphine catalyst. Industrial uses of homogeneous catalyst systems are increasing. It is not by accident that many homogeneous catalysts contain tertiary phosphine ligands. These ligands possess the correct steric and electronic properties that are necessary for catalytic reactivity and selectivity. This point will be emphasized throughout the book. Thus the stage is set for a comprehensive be treatment of the many ways in which phosphine catalyst systems can designed, synthesized, and studied.

In the last decade there have been numerous advances in the area of rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation, such as highly selective catalysts of industrial importance, new insights into mechanisms of the reaction, very selective asymmetric catalysts, in situ characterization and application to organic synthesis. The views on hydroformylation which still prevail in the current textbooks have become obsolete in several respects. Therefore, it was felt timely to collect these advances in a book. The book contains a series of chapters discussing several rhodium systems arranged according to ligand type, including asymmetric ligands, a chapter on applications in organic chemistry, a chapter on modern processes and separations, and a chapter on catalyst preparation and laboratory techniques. This book concentrates on highlights, rather than a concise review mentioning all articles in just one line. The book aims at an audience of advanced students, experts in the field, and scientists from related fields. The didactic approach also makes it useful as a guide for an advanced course.

Rhodium has proven to be an extremely useful metal due to its ability to catalyze an array of synthetic transformations, with quite often-unique selectivity. Hydrogenation, C-H activation, allylic substitution, and numerous other reactions are catalyzed by this metal, which presumably accounts for the dramatic increase in the number of articles that have recently emerged on the topic. P. Andrew Evans, the editor of this much-needed book, has assembled an internationally renowned team to present the first comprehensive coverage of this important area. The book features contributions from leaders in the field of rhodium-catalyzed reactions, and thereby provides a detailed account of the most current developments, including: Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation (Zhang) Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroborations and Related Reactions (Brown) Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Organometallic Reagents to Electron Deficient Olefins (Hayashi) Recent Advances in Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Olefin Isomerization and Hydroacylation Reactions (Fu) Stereoselective Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Hydroformylation and Silylformylation Reactions and Their Application to Organic Synthesis (Leighton) Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions Starting from Rh-H or Rh-Si Species (Matsuda) Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization and Cyclotrimerization Reactions (Ojima) The Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Alder-ene Reaction (Brummond) Rhodium-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Ring Cleaving Reactions of Allylic Ethers and Amines (Fagnou) Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution Reactions and their Applications to Target Directed Synthesis (Evans) Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed [2+2+1] and [4+1] Carbocyclization Reactions (Jeong) Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed [4+2] and [4+2+2] Carbocyclizations (Robinson) Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed [5+2], [6+2], and [5+2+1] Cycloadditions: New Reactions for Organic Synthesis (Wender) Rhodium(II)-Stabilized Carbenoids Containing both Donor and Acceptor Substituents (Davies) Chiral Dirhodium(II)Carboxamidates for Asymmetric Cyclopropanation and Carbon-Hydrogen Insertion Reactions (Doyle) Cyclopentane Construction by Rhodium(II)-Mediated Intramolecular C-H Insertion (Taber) Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative Amination (DuBois) Rearrangement Processes of Oxonium and Ammonium Ylides Formed by Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Carbene-Transfer (West) Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions (Austin) "Modern Rhodium-Catalyzed Organic Reactions" is an essential reference text for researchers at all levels in the general area of organic chemistry. This book provides an invaluable overview of the most significant developments in this important area of research, and will no doubt be an essential text for researchers at academic institutions and professionals at pharmaceutical/agrochemical companies.