The two themes of the book are strategy and control: solving problems either by finding an alternative strategy or by controlling any established strategy to make it work. The book is divided into five sections that deal with selectivity, carbon-carbon single bonds, carbon-carbon double bonds, stereochemistry and functional group strategy.

• A comprehensive, practical account of the key concepts involved in synthesising compounds
• Takes a mechanistic approach, which explains reactions and gives guidelines on how reactions might behave in different situations
• Focuses on reactions that really work rather than those with limited application
• Contains extensive, up-to-date references in each chapter