Richard C. Larock, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Iowa State University. He is a pioneer in the use of palladium catalysts in organic synthesis, particularly in the synthesis of carbocycles and heterocycles. Dr. Larock has given over 420 research presentations and published about 350 articles, 32 patents, and 4 books including two editions of the bestselling classic Comprehensive Organic Transformations (Wiley 1996 and 1999).