Organo-Transition Metal Compounds and Related Aspects of Homogeneous Catalysis covers compounds that possess carbon atoms bonded to metal and to other carbon atoms. The order in which the substances appear in the book is based on the number of carbon atoms it have. The first section is about the alkyl, aryl, ethynyl, acyl, and carbene complexes. The second section deals with olefin and chelating diolefin complexes and complexes formed from acetylene. The following section covers the p-allylic complexes. The structures, stability, and bonding of alkyl and aryl complexes are fully covered. The magnetic moments and electronic spectra are discussed in detail.The fourth section discusses the conjugated diolefinic complexes that contain butadiene or cyclobutadiene. The rest of the book focuses on cyclopentadienyls, arene complexes, tropylium complexes, and complexes formed from cyclo-octatetraene or azulene. The book will be a useful tool for chemists, chemical engineers, and students and researchers in the field of chemistry.

Organometallic chemistry belongs to the most rapidly developing area of chemistry today. This is due to the fact that research dealing with the structure of compounds and chemical bonding has been greatly intensified in recent years. Additionally, organometallic compounds have been widely utilized in catalysis, organic synthesis, electronics, etc. This book is based on my lectures concerning basic organometallic chemistry for fourth and fifth year chemistry students and on my lectures concerning advanced organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis for Ph.D. graduate students. Many recent developments in the area of organometallic chemistry as weIl as homogeneous catalysis are presented. Essential research results dealing with a given class of organometallic compounds are discussed briefly. Results of physicochemical research methods of various organometallic compounds as weIl as their synthesis, properties, structures, reactivities, and applications are discussed more thoroughly. The selection of tabulated data is arbitrary because, often, it has been impossible to avoid omissions. Nevertheless, these data can be very helpful in understanding properties of organometaIlic compounds and their reactivities. All physical data are given in SI units; the interatomic distances are given in pm units in figures and tables. I am indebted to Professor S. A. Duraj for translating and editing this book. His remarks, discussions, and suggestions are greatly appreciated. I also express gratitude to Virginia E. Duraj for editing and proofreading.

Contains a balanced discussion of homogeneous catalytic reactions that are used in industry, featuring every documented example employed in a current commercial process, or that have a broad application in the organic synthesis laboratory. Incorporates synthesis with chiral catalysts in chapters on hydrogenation, CO chemistry and olefin oxidation. New additions include Tennessee Eastman's coal-based acetic anhydride plant and IFP's Dimersol process for dimerizing propylene as well as major changes in the areas on pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances, agricultural and electronic chemicals.

Soluble catalysts are used extensively in many branches of chemistry and are indeed a vital constituent of many natural processes. They find wide application throughout the chemical industry where they assist in the production of several million tonnes of chemicals each year. Since homogeneous systems, especially those incorporating transition metals, often function effectively under milder conditions than their heterogeneous counterparts, they are becoming increasingly important at a time when the chemical industry in particular, and society in general, is seeking ways of conserving energy and of making the best possible use of available resources. My principal objective in- writing this book is to engender sufficient enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, the subject in the reader that he or she will be encouraged to begin, or continue, to make their own contribution to advancing our knowledge of homogeneous catalysis. After attempting to acquaint the reader with some of the ground rules I have tried to describe the present scope, and the future potential, of this fascinating field of chemistry by drawing both on academic and on industrial data sources. This approach stems from a personal conviction that future progress could be considerably hastened by a more meaningful dialogue between chemists working both in industrial and in academic research institutions. Wherever possible, examples of the commercial application of homogeneous catalyst systems have been included and no attempt has been made in any way to disguise the many unresolved questions and exciting challenges which still pervade this rapidly developing area.

Some years ago, I agreed to contribute a volume to the Academic Press 'Organo metallic Chemistry' series - the metals to be covered were rhodium and iridium. Initially, my plan was to discuss both the fundamental organometallic chemistry and applications in organic synthesis. When the first draft of the manuscript was complete, it was apparent that I had exceeded my allowance of pages by a huge amount. It was then that I decided that the catalysis section warranted separate treatment. I am grateful to Reidel for agreeing to publish this volume on Homogeneous Catalysis with Compounds of Rhodium and Iridium as part of their 'Catalysis by Metal Complexes' series. The material I had for the original Academic Press project covered the litera ture to the end of 1978. I decided to update this to the end of 1982 with a few key references from 1983. It is some measure of the rate of progress in this field that the number of references almost doubled during this revision.