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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.

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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.
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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...

Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration

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A significant aspect of hydroboration–oxidation is the regio- and stereochemical outcome of the reaction.
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn stereochemistry.

Enzymes

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Inside living organisms, enzymes act as catalysts for many biochemical reactions involved in cellular metabolism. The role of enzymes is to reduce the activation energies of biochemical reactions by forming complexes with its substrates. The lowering of activation energies favor an increase in the rates of biochemical reactions.
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Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs

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Published on: January 17, 2020

Configuration Matching Strategy to Control Selectivity in Heterogeneous Catalysis.

Yueqiang Cao¹, Xiaohu Ge¹, Gang Qian¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-Carbon Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.

Accounts of Chemical Research

|December 9, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Achieving high selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis is crucial for efficient chemical production. This study introduces "configuration matching" to precisely control reactant adsorption, enhancing selectivity in hydrogenation and oxidation reactions.

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Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction

Published on: August 23, 2018

Area of Science:

Heterogeneous catalysis
Chemical engineering
Materials science

Background:

Catalysis is vital for chemical transformations, but achieving high selectivity remains challenging due to complex reaction pathways.
Controlling reactant adsorption configurations on catalyst surfaces is key to directing reaction outcomes.
Existing methods struggle to precisely tune active sites for desired adsorption modes.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a design principle called "configuration matching" for enhancing selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis.
To demonstrate how manipulating adsorption configurations can improve efficiency in hydrogenation, oxidation, and hydrogenolysis.
To highlight strategies for different substrate classes, including alkynes, polyfunctional molecules, and aromatics.

Main Methods:

Utilizing site isolation to enlarge metal-metal distances, enforcing π-adsorption for alkyne hydrogenation.
Employing metal-oxide interfaces to selectively anchor functional groups in polyfunctional molecules.
Applying nanopore confinement and porous overlayers to control orientation and diffusion for aromatic/cyclic molecules.

Main Results:

Achieved high selectivity in acetylene hydrogenation to ethylene by preventing overhydrogenation.
Demonstrated selective transformations of glycerol and dimethyl oxalate using tailored metal-oxide interfaces.
Engineered catalysts using confinement effects for selective hydrodeoxygenation and partial hydrogenation of aromatics.

Conclusions:

Configuration matching offers a systematic approach to control selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis.
Tailoring active sites to substrate adsorption configurations significantly improves reaction efficiency.
This strategy provides a robust framework for designing catalysts for diverse chemical transformations.