Since the publication of our earlier book on transition metal mediated
organic synthesis, * there has been a widespread increase of interest
in this topic, and transition metal based methodology has become firmly
established in many areas of organic chemistry. The direct, catalytic
formation of organic carbonyl compounds using carbon monoxide as the
source of the carbonyl group has seen exceptional progress, and this
carbonylation chemistry is being used increasingly in research and on a
larger scale for fine chemicals production. In view of these
developments, there is a need for a modem, practi- cally oriented book
dealing with transition metal based carbonylation chemistry. The present
monograph should help fulfill this need, since it is intended
specifically to foster the adoption of catalytic carbonylation as a
general tool in synthetic organic chemistry. It deals exclusively with
reactions involving the interconversion of carbon monoxide and organic
carbonyl compounds, and although the majority of the reactions discussed
involve catalytic formation of carbonyl compounds, potentially valuable
syntheses requiring stoichiometric quantities of transition metal are
also included. In addition, a chapter is devoted to the remarkably
useful reverse transformation (decarbonylation), in which an organic
carbonyl group is eliminated in the form of carbon monoxide.
