The present volume, "Organoosmium Compounds" 8 6, systematically covers the litera ture through 1992, including many later references. This volume is the first published of Series 8. This series is devoted to compounds containing two or more osmium atoms. The volume forms a unit with" Organoosmium Compounds" 8 5 (in preparation). 80th volumes deal with trinuclear compounds with ligands other than CO which are bonded to Os by one carbon atom ("1L ligands "), regardless of whether the ligand is additionally coordinated to Os by heteroatoms. Generally CO groups are additional ligands. As is usual in the organometallic Gmelin series, the term "trinuclear" means three osmium atoms in the molecule without regard to any additional metals that may be present. The content and the subdivision of both volumes are described on p. 1. Volume 85 will deal with homometallic compounds in which the bonding C atom of the leading 1L ligand is bonded to Os by one non-bridging Os-C bond. The first part of the present volume, 86, is devoted to homometallic compounds in which the bonding C atom of the 1L ligand bridges two or three Os atoms. A second part deals with all heterometallic compounds with 1L ligands other than CO. An Empirical Formula Index and a Ligand Formula Index for both volumes 8 5 and 86 will be included in volume 8 5. For abbreviations and dimensions used throughout this volume, see p. X."

The GmeLin series "Organometallic Compounds" comprises compounds containing at least one carbon-to-metal bond (except cyano compounds, which are considered inorganic). It includes all information in scientific journals, but patents, conference reports, and disserta- tions generally were not reviewed. The volumes published so far are listed on p. V/' Organometallic compounds are classified according to their nuclearity and the bonding mode of the organic ligands nL. Nuclearity means the number of atoms of the title metal in the formula unit disregarding any additional metals that may be present. The term nL designates a ligand bonded by n carbon atoms to one or different atoms of the title metal. As usual, a-bonded 1 L ligands are designated by R. Inorganic ligands (Le., ligands bonded exclusively by elements other than carbon) are generally designated by 0 or X. 0 means donor ligands such as pyridine or phosphanes; m-electron donors are specified by mO. X is reserved for negatively charged ligands or other one-electron donors such as halogens or SnR; bridging X ligands may donate one 3 2 2 2 (~-H), three (~-Cl, ~-OR), or five (~3-1) electrons. Terms such as lL_ 0, 20-X, or 20_ 0_ 0 may be used for multidentate ligands. Heterometals are often designated by M, and bridging elements, bridging groups, or nonmetallic cluster constituents by E. The symbols 1] and ~ follow the IUPAC nomenclature.

This well-presented and richly illustrated study of Etruscan history and culture is based around a catalogue of Etruscan artworks and artefacts from an exhibition held in Hamburg in 2004. The exhibits, which include wall paintings, tombs, ceramics, metalwork, armour and weapons, mirrors and everyday items, are all presented in colour photographs with a full description. Background essays place the objects in their setting, discussing Etruscan culture, grave goods, wall paintings and tombs and Etruscan archaeology.