Introduction by Prof. Tsuneo Imamoto (Volume Editor):

The elements of groups 7-3 as well as other metallic elements provide numerous organometallic complexes that present a variety of bonding styles and molecular structures. Although these complexes exhibit characteristic physicochemical properties and biological activities, their degree of utility in organic synthesis depends largely on each element.

For example, many organometallic complexes of titanium, zirconium, chromium, manganese, and the lanthanides play important roles as reagents or catalysts in organic synthesis, whereas technetium and actinide complexes are rarely used in synthesis despite their unique reactivity. It is also true that the well-characterized complexes prepared by reliable methods are not always important in synthesis because of their relatively lower reactivity, and, in contrast, in some cases, the uncharacterized reactive complexes are very useful for organic transformations.

In general, each chapter of this volume consists of a product class of one element, whereas chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten are described in a combined product class to avoid the redundancy of the closely related methods. A similar approach is also employed for niobium and tantalum, zirconium and hafnium, and for scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides. Each product class is divided into product subclasses that are described in order of descending hapticity of the ligands. The section Applications [of the Product Subclass] in Organic Synthesis is utilized when the product subclass is employed as a reagent or catalyst in organic transformations. Synthetically important but uncharacterized complexes are also described in this section.

The links below provide further information about Volume 2:

• Interactive sample chapter by Prof. Tsuneo Imamoto.
• Detailed table of contents (pdf).
• List of authors.