Interdisciplinarity is an important aspect of modem science. A convincing example is pro vided by organometallic chemistry, a discipline at the interface of inorganic and organic chemistry. Over the last 20 years, organometallic chemistry has served as an inexhaustible source of new methods of ever increasing value to organic synthesis both in the laboratory and in large scale industrial plants using transition metal catalysts. In order to strengthen collaboration between inorganic and organic chemists the "Vokswagen-Stiftung" started a new program "Organic Synthesis via Organometallics" in 1986. This program grew up to more than 60 projects over a period of six years. In addi tion to its main topic organic synthesis it covered mechanistic and structural aspects of organometallic chemistry. Scientists participating in the program met with other experts from academia and industry in a series of five symposia held in Hamburg (February 1986), WUrzburg (October 1988), Marburg (July 1990) and Aachen (November 1992). The fifth and final symposium took place in Heidelberg from September 26 to 28, 1996.

Carbon-Rich Organoruthenium and Selective Catalytic Transformations of Alkynes

Polymer Synthesis with Organometallic Intermediates
Organoaluminum and Organogallium Complexes as Efficient and Selective Alkylating Agents
Nickel Mediated Cyclobutabenzenes Syntheses
Organometallics-Aided "SO", "S2" and "S" Transfer in the Synthesis of Small-Membered Heterocycles
Stereoselective Reactions of Transition Metal Carbonyl Complexes
Metal-Centered Coupling Reactions of C1-Ligands Analogous to Carbon Monoxide
The Synthesis of Indoles by Transition Metal Catalyzed Addition of Alkynes to 1,2-Diazenes
Polycyclic Ring Systems via Palladacycles as Reactive Intermediates
Substrate Directed Diastereoselective Hydroformylation of Methallylic Alcohols
Parahydrogen and in situ NMR-Spectroscopy as Mechanistic Tools in Catalysis
Chiral Ligands and Chiral Pockets. Some Thoughts on Enantioselective Homogeneous Catalysis
Application of High Pressure in Palladium Catalysis
Asymmetric Reactions Catalyzed by Palladium-MOP Complexes
New Chiral Ferrocenyl Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis: Applications and Mechanistic Studies
Mechanisms of the Catalyzed Mukaiyama Cross-Aldol Reaction
New Rhodium Hydroformylation Catalysts
Development of Transition Metal Complexes as Redox Reagents and Redox Catalysts
Synthesis of Highly Enantioenriched Compounds via Iron Mediated Allylic Substitutions
Syntheses of Biologically Relevant Target Molecules by Transition Metal-Induced C-C-Bond Formation
Pd(II)-Catalyzed Carbonylation of Unsaturated Polyols and Aminopolyols
New Organometallic Solutions to Problems in Polyene Natural and Unnatural Products Synthesis.