Book excerpt: Acts as a single source for synthetic methods of carboxylic acids, esters, acid halides, anhydrides, amides and imides covering general and newer methods of preparation from 1967-1987. The authors have attempted to include sufficient detail and examples of typical preparations to allow the reader to make a choice from among several alternative methods. As with other volumes in this series, the topic covered here has been included within the long-established volumes in The Chemistry of Functional Groups series.