Introduction: From The Blackboard To The Laboratory Is There Yet Trouble With Classical Synthetic Reactions? The Diels - Alder Reaction The Aldol Condensation The Michael Addition Radical Cyclizations Oxidation And Reductions Protecting And Activating Groups: Still Troublesome? Protecting Groups Activating Groups How Efficient Are Metal - Mediated Synthetic Steps? Metal - Mediated Couplings Ring - Closing Metathesis Carbocyclization Reactions Asymmetric Catalysis