Book excerpt: Volume 1 reviews the preparations, properties, structure, bonding and applications of organometallic compounds of Alkali metal, Alkaline earth, Copper, Silver, Zinc, Mercury and Cadmium. It provides a clear and comprehensive overview of developments since 1993 and attempts to predict trends in the field over the next ten years. Like its predecessors, COMC (1982) and COMC-II (1995), this new work is the essential reference text for any chemist or technologist who needs to use or apply organometallic compounds. * valuable content available May 2009 as an individual volume * separate volumes will appeal to a wider chemistry and materials science audience * priced for individual researcher as well as library purchase