Organometallic Chemistry and Elementary Steps

Abstract

The entire science of chemistry can be thought of as the underlying knowledge of catalysis, since each conversion can be subjected to catalysis, each material might function as a catalyst, each spectroscopic technique may prove useful one day in catalysis, and catalytic processes are amongst the most intriguing theoretical targets. Yet, in only a small number of pages, we will outline here what we think are the key underlying principles for catalysis. The organometallic chemistry we discuss in this chapter deals with the most often used concepts of chemical bonding related to catalysis and the organometallic reactions most frequently encountered in mechanistic treatments of catalytic reactions. For an elaborate treatment of elementary steps, the reader is referred to a specialized textbook. As the title suggests, we will mainly deal with homogeneous processes, but the same elementary reactions can also take place at the surface of solid catalysts or nanoparticles. In particular, metals or metal carbides show additional reactions that have no close analogues in organometallic chemistry, such as the dissociation of adsorbed CO in Fe or iron carbide catalysts.