_P.-Powell-auth.-Principles-of-Organometallic-Chemistry-Springer-Netherlands-1988

Preface
In the 20 years since 'Principles' first appeared the field of organometallic
chemistry has continued to expand very rapidly. During the 1950s and 1960s the
main theme was the preparation and structural characterization of new
compounds, especially those ofthe transition elements. The last two decades ha ve
seen the development of this theme and many unexpected materials such as
carbyne complexes and cluster compounds have been discovered. There is now
increasing emphasis on the application of organometallics of al! types in organic
synthesis, both in the laboratory and on an industrial scale.
These developments, although very exciting, present problems to anyone rash
enough to attempt to write an undergraduate text. Such a book should not be too
long and should present a balanced view ofthe field without becoming completely
indigestible through a mass of detail. The excellent reference work, 'Comprehensive
Organometallic Chemistry', published in 1 9 8 2, consists of 8 tomes and a large
index volume. Unfortunately, as Professor Coates has' remarked, "though the
content of science has grown so much, it is unlikely that the effective capacity of
students' brains has increased substantially over the past 15-20 years."
It has therefore been necessary to be very selective in the topics discussed.
Emphasis is laid on structures, bonding, methods of preparation and general
reactions of organometallic compounds. An elementary knowledge of thermodynamics,
bonding theory and the use of spectroscopic methods of structure
determination is assumed. The Periodic Groups provide a logica! framework for
treating the compounds of the typical elements. In the area of the transition
elements, however, the chemistry has been classified in terms of the electron
number of the principal ligand. The alternative approach, classification by
reaction type, can have the disadvantage that examples have to be drawn from
otherwise unrelated areas, which can prove confusing to the beginner.
The relevance of organometallic chemistry to industry has been indicated
throughout. Thanks are duc to severa! firms including Associated Octel. Bayer
AG, British Petroleum pic, Dow Corning, Esso and Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. for
providing information in this connection. A chapter describes studies of the
mechanisms of homogeneously catalysed reactions. A few of these reactions are
used in industry. In other cases such mechanistic studies help to clarify how the
related heterogeneous systems, which are used in practice, may work.
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