Neutral reactive intermediates - radicals, carbenes, nitrenes, and arynes - have an interesting place within the history of organic chemistry. Once regarded as curiosities, then intensively studied from the mechanistic point of view by physical organic chemists, they now play a key role in synthetic chemistry. This concise text concentrates on the last aspect of reactive intermediate chemistry the important reactions of these electron-deficient species are laid out clearly and simply, with carefully chosen examples illustrating their use in organic synthesis. Each chapter includes a few problems as well as suggestions for further reading and provides undergraduates with an invaluable summary of this important topic in organic chemistry. This book is intended for undergraduate students of chemistry, and their teachers.
