Heterogeneous catalysis electrophilic addition

Acids that have weakly nucleophilic anions, e.g. HS04e from dilute aqueous H2S04, are chosen as catalysts, so that their anions will offer little competition to H20 any R0S03H formed will in any case be hydrolysed to ROH under the conditions of the reaction. Rearrangement of the carbocationic intermediate may take place, and electrophilic addition of it to as yet unprotonated alkene is also known (p. 185). The reaction is used on the large scale to convert cracked petroleum alkene fractions to alcohols by vapour phase hydration with steam over heterogeneous acid catalysts. Also under acid catalysis, ROH may be added to alkenes to yield ethers, and RCOzH to yield esters. 

The number of studies of inorganic reaction mechanisms by theoretical methods has increased drastically in the last decade. The studies cover ligand substitution reactions, insertion reactions oxidative addition, nucleophilic and electrophilic attack as well as metallacycle formation and surface chemistry, in addition to homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis as well as metalloenzymes. We can expect the modeling to increase further both in volume and in sophistication [173],... 

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