Foreword -- Abbreviations – Background: Introduction to catalysis -- General -- Considerations -- The elementary steps of catalytic reactions -- Classification of the catalytic processes on the basis of the electronic character of the reagents -- References -- Overview of common carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond forming reactions: Cross-coupling reactions -- Heck reaction -- Buchwald-Hartwig reaction -- Reactions proceeding with Co insertion -- Copper catalyzed processes -- References -- Late transition metal catalysis in the synthesis of heterocycles: the synthesis of five membered rings -- Introduction to catalysis: Transmetalation route -- Insertion route -- Carbon-heteroatom bond formation -- Other processes -- References -- The synthesis of six membered rings: Transmetalation route -- Insertion route -- Carbon-heteroatom bond formation -- Other processes -- References -- The synthesis of other ring systems -- Transmetalation route -- Insertion route -- Carbon-heteroatom bond formation -- Other processes -- References -- Late transition metal catalysis in the functionalization of heterocycles: The functionalization of five membered rings: Transmetalation route -- Insertion route -- Carbon-heteroatom bond formation -- Other processes -- References -- The functionalization of six membered rings -- Transmetalation route -- Insertion route -- Carbon-heteroatom bond formation -- Other processes -- References -- The functionalization of other ring systems: Transmetalation route -- Insertion route -- Carbon-heteroatom bond formation -- Other processes -- References -- Introduction to catalysis -- Subject index.Heterocycles from Transition Metal Catalysis: Formation and Functionalization provides a concise summary of the prominent role of late transition metal (palladium, nickel, copper) catalysed processes in the synthesis and functionalization of heterocyclic systems. It gives an introduction to catalytic transformations, an overview of the most important reaction types, and presents synthetically useful catalytic processes classified by the target system and the type of transformation. The multitude and diversity of late transition metal (palladium, copper and nickel) catalysed reactions might seem daunting for the synthetic chemist, but this book converts anxiety to fascination by providing a well organised overview of the key catalytic transformations and their application in the preparation and functionalization of heteroaromatic systems. The demonstration that complex transformations, like a captivating toy, are made up by assembling the same "simple" building blocks, and a survey of the scope and limitations of these processes will help chemists to devise new, more efficient reactions and explain observations in academia and industry alike. The book provides a representative selection of transition metal catalysed reactions, transformations that are relevant in heterocyclic chemistry. In this way, the authors provide a useful resource for members of the academic community looking for a textbook as well as industrial chemists in search of a reference book. This book is an invaluable resource for synthetic chemists, medicinal chemists, and those more generally interested in applied catalysis.