Introduction by Prof. Victor Snieckus (Volume Editor):

Volume 8b is the second part of the review of alkali metal chemistry from the perspective of organic synthesis and deals with sodium, potassium, cesium, and rubidium, and their selected derivatives. Organolithium compounds and other lithium species are described in Science of Synthesis, Volume 8a. Taken together, Volumes 8a and 8b conclude the eightpart series in Category 1 (Organometallics) following in the elegant footsteps of the alkali metal coverage in Houben–Weyl, Vols. 13/1 (1970) and E 19d (1993). For the presentation of methods in chemical synthesis, the major difference between Houben–Weyl and Science of Synthesis is the comprehensive and exhaustive nature of the former and the selective, critically evaluated, and most useful and reliable methods presentation of the latter.

As has been already pointed out in the introduction to Volume 8a, a major challenge in planning the volume concerned the ubiquitous nature of alkali metal compounds in organic synthesis. Broadly speaking, Volume 8 covers the alkali metals in diverse and arguably unusual categories: (a) their elemental form; (b) a number of simple derivatives such as hydrides, hydroxides, and halides; (c) “true organometallic compounds” bearing metal-carbon bonds such as alkylmetals; and (d) metal enolates. Hence, Volume 8 departs to some extent from the purely organometallics focus of the eight-part series.

The links below provide further information about Volume 8b:

• Detailed table of contents (pdf).
• List of authors.
• Volume 8 overview page.