This handbook and ready reference highlights the latest insights and developments in the studies of important organometallic, homogeneous, and heterogeneous reaction mechanisms. It adopts a unique approach, exemplifying how to use experiments, spectroscopic investigations, and computational methods to reveal reaction pathways and molecular structures of catalysts, rather than concentrating solely on one discipline. The result is a deeper understanding of the underlying reaction mechanisms and correlation between molecular structure and reactivity. The contributions represent a wealth of first-hand information from renowned experts working in all major disciplines, covering such topics as activation of small molecules, palladium catalysis, cross-coupling reactions, and nanoparticle synthesis. With the knowledge gained, the reader will be able to improve existing reaction protocols and rationally design more efficient catalysts or selective reactions.
An indispensable source of information for synthetic, analytical, and theoretical chemists in academia and industry alike.

Valentin Ananikov received his PhD degree in 1999 and his Habilitation in 2003. He was appointed as Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Transition-Metal and Nanoparticle Catalysis at the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (Moscow, Russia) in 2005. In 2008 he was elected as a Member of Russian Academy of Sciences. He was a recipient of the Russian State Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Science and Technology (2004), the Science Support Foundation Award (2005), Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2000), Balandin Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of catalysis (2010), and was awarded Liebig Lecturer by the German Chemical Society in 2010. His research has been supported by grants from the President of Russia (2004, 2007, 2011). He is a member of the International Advisory Boards of Organometallics (ACS Publications) and Chemistry - An Asian Journal (WILEY), and Deputy Editor of Russian Chemical Reviews. His scientific interests are focused on transition metal-catalyzed reactions, development of new structural methods, mechanistic studies of catalytic reactions, and theoretical studies of reaction mechanisms.