Catalytic Properties of Nitrogen-Containing Carbons

See for a nice overview on the catalytic properties of nitrogen-containing carbons Boehm, H.-P. (2009) in Carbon Materials for Catalysis (eds P, Serp and J.L. Figueiredo), John Wiley Sons Inc., Hoboken, NJ, pp, 219-265,... 

An excessive HN03 expositlon on the other hand can lead to a serious worsening of the catalytic properties of the activated carbon due to the formation of different nitrogen containing surface functional groups. 

The most commonly used type of catalyst is a relatively small, bifunctional molecule that contains both a Lewis base and a Bronsted acid center, the catalytic properties being based on the activation of both the donor and the acceptor of the substrates. The majority of organocatalysts are chiral amines, e.g. amino acids or peptides. The acceleration of the reaction is either based on a charge-activated reaction (formation of an imminium ion 4), or involves the generalized enamine catalytic cycle (formation of an enamine 5). In an imminium ion, the electrophilicity compared to a keton or an oxo-Michael system is increased. If the imminium ion is deprotonated to form an enamine species, the nucleophilicity of the a-carbon is increased by the electron-donating properties of the nitrogen. ... 

The burning of fuel in a car engine produces a variety of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, unbumed hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Catalytic converters change these compounds into more environmentally friendly compounds. Although tetraethyllead (Pb(C2H5)4) has been used as an additive which can be used to Improve the antiknock properties of fuel (leaded petrol), it stops the platinum catalyst In a catalytic converter from functioning. Leaded petrol should therefore not be used In a car that contains a catalytic converter. 

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