Stereo-Differentiating Reactions: The Nature of Asymmetric Reactions provides an introduction to asymmetric reactions. It brings together synthetic organic chemistry, stereochemistry, group theory, the theory of optical rotation, experimental methods, etc., all of which are basic to the study of stereo-differentiating reactions, to form a unified approach based on the new concept of "differentiation." The authors hope that the value of the new concept, which is rather more complex than conventional treatments of asymmetric reactions, will become clear in the present book. This new concept should be useful in many fields of study, not only the development of stereo-differentiating reactions, but also in the study of general reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry.The book contains nine chapters and begins with a historical background of studies on asymmetric reactions. This is followed by separate chapters on molecular symmetry and chirality; nomenclature for chirality, prochirality, and stereo-differentiating reactions; the mechanisms of stereo-differentiating reactions; methods for studying stereo-differentiating reactions; and the basic principle of optical activity.