Organic reactions—continued stereospecific

Scientific research has led to significant success in the practical applications of organic ion radicals. Such applications should widen in the future. It is very important to concentrate effort on the elaboration of preparative methods of ion radical organic chemistry, including stereospecific methods. The correct choice of new developmental procedures opens up a wealth of new directions. It is hoped that interest in this area will continue to ensure the flow of new ideas and reactions, particularly in the area of organic synthesis in liquid phase and without light irradiation. 

Towards the end of the second millennium, studies of the transition elements continued to make major contributions to chemical science and technology. The development of new catalysts and reagents represents one area of activity. Examples are provided by the activation of saturated hydrocarbons by rhodium or lutetium complexes, new syntheses of optically active products in reactions which employ chiral metal compounds, and transition metal compounds which catalyse the stereospecific polymerization of alkenes. The ability of transition metal centres to bind to several organic molecules has been exploited in the construction of new two- and three-dimensional molecular architectures (Figure 1.4). New materials containing transition elements are being developed, one... 

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