Catalysts are now widely used in both laboratory and industrial-scale chemistry. Indeed, it is hard to find any complex synthesis or industrial process that does not, at some stage, utilize a catalytic reaction. The development of homogeneous transition metal catalysts on the laboratory scale has demonstrated that these systems can be far superior to the equivalent heterogeneous systems, at least in terms of selectivity. is an increasing interest in this field of research from both an Thus, there academic and industrial point of view. In connection with the rapid developments in this area, four universities from the E.E.C (Aachen, FRG; Liege, Belgium; Milan, Italy; and Lille, France) have collaborated to organise a series of seminars for high-level students and researchers. These meetings have been sponsored by the Commission of the E.E.C and state organizations. The most recent of these meetings was held in Lille in September 1985 and this book contains updated and expanded presentations of most of the lectures given there. These lectures are concerned with the field of homogeneous transition metal catalysis and its application to the synthesis of organic intermediates and fine chemicals from an academic and industrial viewpoint. The continuing petroleum crisis which began in the early 1970s has given rise to the need to develop new feedstocks for the chemical industry.

Inhalt
Chemicals from Methanol and Carbon Monoxide.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Carbonylation of Methanol and of Methanol Derivatives.- 3. Reductive Carbonylation of Methanol and Methanol Derived Substrates.- 4. Oxidative Carbonylation.- 5. Conclusions.- References.- Carbon Monoxide and Fine Chemicals Synthesis.- 1. Basis of Carbon Monoxide Chemistry.- 2. Carbonylation of Organic Halides.- 3. Carbonylation of Alcohols.- 4. Carbonylation of Nitro Compounds.- 5. Carbonylation of Amines.- 6. Carbonylation of Alkenes.- 7. Carbonylation of Alkynes.- 8. Carbonylation of CH Bonds.- 9. Synthesis of Amino Acids.- 10. Conclusion.- References.- Transition Metal Catalyzed Reductions of Organic Molecules by Molecular Hydrogen and Hydrides: An Overview.- 1. Activation of Molecular Hydrogen.- 2. Some Recent Developments in Hydrogénation: Activation of Hydrides by Transition Metal Derivatives.- 3. Hydrosilylation.- 4. Hydrozirconation.- References.- Application of Transition Metals in Natural Product and Heterocycle Synthesis.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Stoichiometric Reactions: Organocopper Derivatives.- 3. Catalytic Reaction: Palladium and Nickel Organometallic Reagents.- 4. Applications of Palladium and Nickel Complexes in Natural Product Synthesis.- (A) Cross Coupling Reaction of Allyl Halides.- (B) Cross Coupling Reactions of Aromatic Halides.- (C) Cross Coupling Reactions of Aryl Halides with ?-AllylNickel Complexes.- (D) Palladium Catalyzed Cross Coupling Reactions of Organometallics.- (A) Malonates.- (B) Sulfones.- (C) Nitroalkanes.- 5. Particular Applications of Transition Metals.- 6. Applications of Transition Metals in Hydride Chemistry.- 7. Application of Transition Metal Catalysis in Heterocyclic Synthesis (Typical Examples).- 8. Transition Metal-Catalyzed Reactions of Carbenes.-References.- Application of Telomerization and Dimerization to the Synthesis of Fine Chemicals.- 1. Telomerization Reactions.- 2. Dimerization Reactions.- 3. Conclusions.- References.- Oligomerization of Mono olefins.- 1. The Main Catalysts for Oligomerization.- 2. Mechanistic Considerations.- 3. Heterogeneous and Supported Catalysts.- 4. Industrial Developments.- References.- Coordination Polymerization of Monoolefins and Diolefins.- 1. Introduction: The Discovery.- 2. Polymerization of Monoolefins.- 3. Polymerization of Diolefins.- 4. Homo- and Copolymerization or Other Types of Monomers.- 5. General Conclusions.- References.- Olefin Metathesis and Related Reactions.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Scope of the Reaction.- 3. Catalysts.- 4. Mechanism of the Reaction.- 5. Stereoselectivities.- 6. Initial Production of Carbene.- 7. Metallacarbenes as Catalyst.- 8. Role of Oxygen.- 9. Industrial Applications.- 10. Conclusion.- References.- Activation of Alkane CH Bonds by Orga-nometallics.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Oxidative Addition of Alkane CH Bonds to Organometallics.- 3. Activation of Alkanes by Organoactinides.- 4. Conclusions.- References.- Coordination Photochemistry: Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Redox Photocatalysis.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Properties of the Excited State.- 3. Examples of Coordination Compounds with Charge Transfer Transitions.- 4. Electron Transfer Reaction of the Excited State.- 5. Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Light Energy.- 6. Concluding Remarks.- An Introduction to the Field of Catalysis by Molecular Clusters and by Supported Molecular Clusters and Complexes.- 1. An Introduction to Molecular Clusters.- 2. Catalysis by Molecular Clusters.- References.- Future Trends in Homogeneous Catalysis.- 1. Industrial Applications of Homogeneous Catalysis.- 2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Homogeneous Catalysis.- 3. Future Applications of Homogeneous Catalysis.- References.- Index 349.