Homogeneous Hydrogenation in Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is constantly concerned with effecting reactions at a particular centre in a complex molecule, and if possible with a high and predictable level of stereoselectivity. In the light of much accumulated experience within organic chemistry it is usually possible to assess the likeli­ hood of alternative reaction pathways at least qualitatively. However, well based expectations can be falsified, and the experiments directed to the synthesis of vitamin B12 which led to Woodward'...