This book is concerned with the synthetic aspects of oxidation reactions involving metal compounds. which are readily available or easy to prepare. The sequence followed in the chapters is as follows: a general introduction. a limited treatment of reaction mechanisms to serve as a basis for synthesis. and scope and limitations of the oxidant system. mostly in terms of substrate and product classes. Finally, at the end of each chapter. representative synthetic procedures are given together with relevant experimental considerations. A general table is included as an appendix. This contains substrate classes and resulting product classes, referring to the oxidative procedures in the chapters. The table provides the synthetic organic chemist with a quick overview of oxidation possibilities with metal-contain­ ing oxidants, enabling him to select the right method for his purpose. The editors hope that not only organic research chemists in industry and at universities, but also advanced undergraduate and graduate students in organic chemistry, will find this book a useful guide in the design, understanding, and practical performance of oxidative organic syntheses. The editors are grateful to the authors not only for their contributions. containing interesting new developments in oxidation chemistry, but also for the way they fitted the text into the general framework given for the book. Their suggestions and comments are gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Mrs. A. I. Rohnstrom-Ouwejan, secretary to the editors, for her administrative support.