Spatiotemporal control for integrated catalysis

Integrated catalysis is an emerging methodology that can streamline the multi-step synthesis of complicated products in a single reaction vessel, achieving a high degree of control and reducing the waste and cost of an overall chemical process. Integrated catalysis can be defined using spatial and temporal control to couple different catalytic cycles in one pot. This Primer discusses commonly employed approaches and their underlying mechanisms and elaborates on how the integration of spatially and temporally controlled catalysis in one pot can deliver the synthesis of complex products with high efficiency. We highlight recent advances, analyse current applications and limitations, and provide an outlook for the future development of integrated catalysis. Integrated catalysis can streamline multi-step syntheses in a single reaction vessel to achieve a high degree of control and reduce the waste and cost of chemical processes. In this Primer, Deng et al. discuss the underlying mechanisms of common approaches to integrated catalysis, highlighting recent advances in the field.