The second edition of this extremely successful guidebook for planning organic syntheses is addressed to advanced undergraduate, graduate and research chemists alike. The methods described are chosen for their efficiency, elegance, and didactic value. Retrosynthetic analysis and the synthon approach are presented.

Features include:

* novel stereoselective reactions
* extensive tables listing commercially available starting materials and approximate list prices per 10g
* an additional chapter 'Nanometer-Sized Architecture' contains outstanding examples of molecular assemblies and self-replicating systems

From reviews of the second edition:

'The authors have achieved admirably their stated purpose...The text is very readable, and the authors are especially gifted at explaining complex concepts clearly and succinctly...This book is highly recommended reading for anyone wishing to gain an overview of organic synthesis.' J. Am. Chem. Soc.