Molecular Chemistry of the Transition Elements An Introductory Course Franois Mathey Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France and Alain Sevin Universite Paris VI, France Molecular Chemistry of the Transition Elements combines a description of the experimental facts with theory, using the frontier orbital approach. After a brief history of organometallic chemistry and an introduction to the fundamental concepts of transition metal chemistry, the authors present the key groups of this field: hydrides, carbonyls, M<->C bonds, M<->M bonds, carbene and carbyne complexes, φ - complexes and phosphorus complexes. Later chapters survey the applications of transition metals in both organic synthesis and catalysis. Molecular Chemistry of the Transition Elements presents:

• Integrated experimental and theoretical approaches
• A detailed description of the major compounds of the field
• The comprehensive theory of metal-metal single and multiple bonds
• Applications of transition metals
• An in-depth treatment of phosphorus ligands and their complexes