Applications of carbene complexes toward organic synthesis

The article highlights advances in the discovery and development of reactio n processes utilizing metal-carbene complexes which are useful in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Emphasis is on reaction processes which re sult in the formation of carbon-carbon bonds in a reliable and efficient ma nner. Examples utilizing these reaction processes for the synthesis of biol ogically-important molecules has been noted wherever appropriate. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.