Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
12:08
Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes
Published on: June 24, 2022
Gold and platinum catalysis--a convenient tool for generating molecular complexity.
1Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, D-45470 Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany. fuerstner@kofo.mpg.de
Chemical Society Reviews
|October 23, 2009
Summary
This review explains pi-acid catalysis using gold and platinum complexes. A unified mechanism explains diverse reactions, enabling complex molecule synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Catalysis
- Organic Synthesis
Background:
- Noble metal complexes, particularly gold and platinum, are increasingly utilized in catalysis.
- Pi-acid catalysis represents a distinct mode of reactivity for these metals.
- Understanding the mechanistic underpinnings is crucial for expanding their synthetic utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the fundamental principles of pi-acid catalysis.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of gold and platinum catalyzed reactions and cascades.
- To rationalize diverse reactivity modes under a unified mechanistic framework.
Main Methods:
- Critical review of existing literature on gold and platinum catalyzed pi-acid reactions.
- Detailed exposition of a proposed uniform mechanistic scheme.
- Illustration through examples from natural product synthesis and complex molecule construction.
Main Results:
- Gold and platinum complexes exhibit versatile reactivity through pi-acid catalysis.
- A single mechanistic model effectively explains various observed reactivity patterns.
- This catalysis enables the efficient construction of complex molecular architectures.
Conclusions:
- Pi-acid catalysis by gold and platinum offers a powerful and unifying approach to complex synthesis.
- The detailed mechanistic understanding facilitates the design of novel catalytic transformations.
- This review highlights the significance of pi-acid catalysis in modern organic synthesis.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Heterogeneous Catalysis
Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
01:17Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, high molecular...
01:27Catalysis
Catalysis influences the rate of chemical reactions by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy. A catalyst speeds up a reaction, but it is not consumed during the process. The fundamental principle of catalysis is the ability of a catalyst to alter the reaction mechanism, often introducing a more efficient pathway than the uncatalyzed process.In a catalyzed reaction, the catalyst participates directly in the reaction mechanism. It interacts with reactants to form...
02:50Catalysis
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
01:13Introduction to Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis
For many years, scientists thought that enzyme-substrate binding took place in a simple "lock-and-key" fashion. This model stated that the enzyme and substrate fit together perfectly in one instantaneous step. However, current research supports a more refined view scientists call induced fit. The induced-fit model expands upon the lock-and-key model by describing a more dynamic interaction between enzyme and substrate. As the enzyme and substrate come together, their interaction causes a mild...
01:13Introduction to Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis
For many years, scientists thought that enzyme-substrate binding took place in a simple "lock-and-key" fashion. This model stated that the enzyme and substrate fit together perfectly in one instantaneous step. However, current research supports a more refined view scientists call induced fit. The induced-fit model expands upon the lock-and-key model by describing a more dynamic interaction between enzyme and substrate. As the enzyme and substrate come together, their interaction causes a mild...