Book excerpt: In this comprehensive book, one of the leading experts, Shun-Ichi Murahashi, presents all the important facets of modern synthetic chemistry using Ruthenium, ranging from hydrogenation to metathesis. In 14 contributions, written by an international authorship, readers will find all the information they need about this fascinating and extraordinary chemistry. The result is a high quality information source and a indispensable reading for everyone working in organometallic chemistry. From the contents: Introduction (S.-I. Murahashi) Hydrogenation and Transfer Hydrogenation (M. Kitamura and R. Noyori) Oxidations (S.-I. Murahashi and N. Komiya) Carbon-Carbon Bond Formations via Ruthenacycle Intermediates (K. Itoh) Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation via pi-Allylruthenium Intermediates (T. Mitsudo) Olefin Metathesis (R. H. Grubbs) Cyclopropanation (H. Nishiyama) Nucleophilic Addition to Alkynes and Reactions via Vinylidene Intermediates (P. Dixneuf) Reactions via C-H Activation (N. Chatani) Lewis Acid Reactions (E. P. Kundig) Reactions with CO and CO2 (T. Mitsudo) Isomerization of Organic Substrates Catalyzed by Ruthenium Complexes (H. Suzuki) Radical Reactions (H. Nagashima) Bond Cleavage Reactions (S. Komiya)