* First book dealing with the synthesis and chemistry of the superbases guanidines, amidines and phosphazenes ; widely-used tools in preparative organic chemistry * Hot topic area because of superbase's chemical properties, potential as catalysts, and derivation from sustainable biomaterial sources * Essential guide which includes details of physical properties, biological roles, synthetic applications, appearance and synthesis as natural products, and use in medicinal chemistry * "Guanidines in Organic Synthesis" was one of the top 5 most downloaded papers of 2006 in the leading organic chemistry journal Synthesis - Ishikawa is the author of that review, and develops the subject area further in this book"