3 Transition metals in organic synthesis

Abstract

The number of reports of transition metal mediated reactions continues to expand at a rapid rate. 2004 represents an exciting and productive year for this fundamental area of research, and a snap-shot of the chemical literature from 2004 is reviewed herein. Reactions involve a metal component either catalytically or stoichiometrically and the review is divided into general reaction types. The author has endeavoured to emphasise reactions of current interest in academic and industrial sectors in the fields of organic, organometallic and bioorganic chemistry. The style of the review is similar to previous review articles written by the author (see I. J. S. Fairlamb, Annu. Rep. Prog. Chem., Sect. B, 2004, 100, 113 and references cited therein).