The two chapters in Volume 84 describe transition metal catalyzed processes that form carbon-carbon bonds and carbon-oxygen bonds in very interesting and practical ways. The first chapter authored by Christina Moberg describes an important subset of one of the earliest and most important enantioselective carbon-carbon bond forming reactions that employ transition metal complexes, namely molybdenum-catalyzed, asymmetric allylic alkylations. The second chapter authored by Brian W. Michel, Laura D. Steffens, and Matthew S. Sigman deals with one of the oldest examples of transition metal catalyzed oxidation, known as the Wacker process.