Homogeneous Catalysis with Transition Metal Catalysts

Most advances in industrial homogeneous catalysis are based on the development of organometallic catalysts. This chapter presents a survey of the most important types of reaction, knowledge of which is sufficient for understanding the reaction cycles of homogeneous transition metal catalysis. A catalytic process can be depicted as a reaction cycle in which substrates are converted to products with the regeneration of the catalytically active species. The cyclic depiction of catalytic processes is particularly clear and is also helpful in developing new processes. In homogeneous catalysis, stoichiometric model reactions with well-defined transition metal complexes can be used to elucidate individual steps of the catalytic cycle. Other methods for testing the validity of an assumed reaction mechanism are the use of labeled compounds and the spectroscopic identification of intermediates. In homogeneous catalysis, high substrate/catalyst ratios are characteristic and many reactions are carried out under inert conditions.