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.