• Author: Craig L. Hill

Historical Evolution of Homogeneous Alkane Activation Systems (A. Shilov).

Electrophilic Chemistry of Alkanes (G. Olah, et al.).

Some Recent Advances in Alkane Functionalization: Metal Phosphine Catalysts and Mercury Photosensitization (R. Crabtree).

Alkane Activation Processes by Cyclopentadienyl Complexes of Rhodium, Iridium, and Related Species (W. Jones).

The Homogeneous Activation of Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds by High-Valent Early d-Block, Lanthanide, and Actinide Metal Systems (I. Rothwell).

Alkane Functionalization by Cytochromes P-450 and by Model Systems Using O₂ and H₂O₂ (D. Mansuy & P. Battioni).

Shape-Selective Oxygenation of Hydrocarbons (K. Suslick).

Catalytic Oxygenation of Unactivated C-H Bonds: Superior Oxo Transfer Catalysts and the ``Inorganic Metalloporphyrin'' (C. Hill).

Selective Functionalization of Saturated Hydrocarbons by the ``Gif'' and ``Gif-Orsay'' Systems (D. Barton & N. Ozbalik).

Alkane Oxidation Studies in du Pont's Central Research Department (C. Tolman, et al.).

Index.

An international group of contributors presents recent developments in the study of the mechanisms, structure-reactivity relations, and other aspects of alkane transformation processes. Special attention is given to highly selective, catalytic, high-conversion alkane functionalization processes--homogeneous processes--especially those in the liquid phase. Principal approaches to transforming, activating, and functionalizing alkanes are discussed, along with the preparative potentials of these processes.