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Catalysis

Catalysis

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.

Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Introduction
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.

Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry

Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry

The absorption of UV–visible light by conjugated systems causes the promotion of an electron from the ground state to the excited state. Consequently, photochemical electrocyclic reactions proceed via the excited-state HOMO rather than the ground-state HOMO. Since the ground- and excited-state HOMOs have different symmetries, the stereochemical outcome of electrocyclic reactions depends on the mode of activation; i.e., thermal or photochemical.
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.

Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation

Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation

Some cycloaddition reactions are activated by heat, while others are initiated by light. For example, a [2 + 2] cycloaddition between two ethylene molecules occurs only in the presence of light. It is photochemically allowed but thermally forbidden.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 3, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

Photoactive Nickel Complexes in Cross-Coupling Catalysis.

Oliver S Wenger¹

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Ring 19, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

|October 28, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Harnessing light-driven nickel catalysis offers new synthetic pathways for forming chemical bonds. This approach explores photo-excited nickel complexes, expanding possibilities in organic synthesis.

Keywords:

cross-coupling electron transfer energy transfer photocatalysis photophysics

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Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

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Last Updated: Dec 3, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

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[DPEPhosbcpCu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst

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Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

Published on: February 19, 2018

Area of Science:

Organic Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Photochemistry

Background:

Transition metal catalysis is crucial for forming carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds.
Nickel and palladium are common catalysts, with increasing interest in earth-abundant nickel.
Photoredox chemistry combined with nickel catalysis presents novel synthetic opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in light-driven nickel catalysis.
To explore the role of photo-excited nickel complexes in organic synthesis.
To identify key concepts for utilizing photoactive nickel complexes.

Main Methods:

Review of recent literature on nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.
Analysis of studies involving photoredox chemistry and nickel complexes.
Investigation of the photophysical and photochemical properties of nickel complexes.

Main Results:

Electronically excited states of nickel complexes are key in some reactions.
Photo-excited metal complexes are underexplored in organic bond-forming reactions.
Photophysics and photochemistry of first-row transition metals are underdeveloped.

Conclusions:

Light-driven nickel catalysis offers significant potential for innovation.
Further research into photoactive nickel complexes can advance organic synthesis.
Exploiting excited-state nickel complexes opens new frontiers in chemical synthesis.