Studies in heteroelement-based synthesis.

An account of studies in our group over 30 years is presented, with highlights taken from events that began with our plans for medium ring synthesis, but were soon diverted to organophosphorus chemistry, and that eventually resulted in the investigation of sulfur ylide ring expansions, thiocarbonyl chemistry, azomethine ylides, organotin and organoboron methodology, and control of relative and absolute configuration.