Piet van Leeuwen is group leader in the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Tarragona, Spain, since 2004 and emeritus professor of homogeneous catalysis at the University of Amsterdam. Until 1994 he headed a research group at Shell Research in Amsterdam studying many aspects of homogeneous catalysis. He coauthored 300 publications, 30 patents, many book chapters, is author of the book "Homogeneous catalysis: Understanding the art". In 2005 he won the Holleman Prize (for organic chemists), granted only every five years by the Royal Academy, and obtained a Marie Curie Chair of Excellence in Tarragona. John Chadwick is employed by LyondellBasell Industries and since 2001 has been on secondment at Eindhoven University of Technology, where he is programme coordinator for Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) projects on polymer catalysis and immobilization. Until 1995, he was at Shell Research in Amsterdam, after which he transferred to the LyondellBasell (at that time Montell, later Basell) research center in Ferrara, Italy, where he was involved in fundamental Ziegler-Natta catalyst R&D. His main research interests involve heterogeneous olefin polymerization catalysis, including Ziegler-Natta and immobilized single-site systems. He is author or co-author of more than 60 publications and 11 patents.

“The text is well-arranged thorough the monograph. The clear style makes it easy to read, further supported by the very informative formulas and figures. It is highly recommended for experts and novices and should serve as a primary source of valuable information not only for academics but also for industrial researchers. This very particular book should be an essential addition to any meaningful institutional library collection.”  (Catal Lett, 1 October 2013)"This volume provides an up to date, well-informed appraisal of issues concerning activity and stability of homogeneous transition metal catalysts. It will prove to be a valuable source of information for researchers working in this field, from graduate students and academics to process chemists in industry." (Chemistry World, 2012)

• ELEMENTARY STEPSIntroductionMetal DepositionLigand Decomposition by OxidationPhosphinesPhosphitesImines and PyridinesCarbenesReactions of Metal-Carbon and Metal-Hydride BondsReactions Blocking the Active SitesEARLY TRANSITION METAL CATALYSTS FOR OLEFIN POLYMERIZATIONZiegler-Natta CatalystsMetallocenesOther Single-Center CatalystsVanadium-Based CatalystsChromium-Based CatalystsConclusionsLATE TRANSITION METAL CATALYSTS FOR OLEFIN POLYMERIZATIONNickel- and Palladium-Based CatalystsIron- and Cobalt-Based CatalystsConclusionsEFFECTS OF IMMOBILIZATION OF CATALYSTS FOR OLEFIN POLYMERIZATIONIntroductionMetallocenes and Related ComplexesOther Titanium and Zirconium ComplexesVanadium ComplexesChromium ComplexesNickel ComplexesIron ComplexesConclusionsDORMANT SPECIES IN TRANSITION METAL-CATALYZED OLEFIN POLYMERIZATIONIntroductionZiegler-Natta CatalystsMetallocenes and Related Early Transition Metal CatalystsLate Transition Metal CatalystsReversible Chain Transfer in Olefin PolymerizationConclusionsTRANSITION METAL CATALYZED OLEFIN OLIGOMERIZATIONIntroductionZirconium CatalystsTitanium CatalystsTantalum CatalystsChromium CatalystsNickel CatalystsIron CatalystsTandem Catalysis Involving Oligomerization and PolymerizationConclusionsASYMMETRIC HYDROGENATIONIntroductionIncubation by Dienes in Rhodium Diene PrecursorsInhibition by Substrates, Solvents, Polar Additives, and ImpuritiesInhibition by Formation of Bridged SpeciesInhibition by Ligand DecompositionInhibition by the ProductInhibition by Metal Formation;Heterogeneous Catalysis by MetalsSelective Activation and Deactivation of Enantiomeric CatalystsConclusionsCARBONYLATION REACTIONSIntroductionCobalt-Catalyzed HydroformylationRhodium-Catalyzed HydroformylationPalladium-Catalyzed Alkene-CO ReactionsMethanol CarbonylationConclusionsMETAL-CATALYZED CROSS-COUPLING REACTIONSIntroduction: A Few Historic NotesOn the Mechanism of Initiation and PrecursorsTransmetallationReductive EliminationPhosphine DecompositionMetal ImpuritiesMetal Nanoparticles and Supported Metal CatalystsConclusionsALKENE METATHESISIntroductionMolybdenum and Tungsten CatalystsRhenium CatalystsRuthenium CatalystsConclusions