Metal-complex catalysis, classification

Nonlinear mechanisms are very common in heterogeneous catalytic reactions. They are also characteristic of chain reactions and, perhaps, of homogeneous catalysis involving metal complexes. Because of this, the classification of these mechanisms is of considerable interest. 

Chapters 1 and 2 of Part A PREFACE introduce into definitions, classifications, history, properties and biological systems of macromolecular metal complexes. Then part B SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURES contain at first in chapter 3 kinetics and thermodynamics of formation of these complexes. The following chapters 4 till 8 describe in detail the various synthetic routes for the preparation of macromolecular metal complexes. Part C with chapters 9 till 14 is devoted to PROPERTIES. The most important ones are binding of small molecules, physical and optical sensors, catalysis, photocatalysis and electron/photon induced processes. In chapter 15 few closing remarks are made. 

Base catalysis of ligand substitutional processes of metal carbonyl complexes in the presence of oxygen donor bases may be apportioned into two distinct classifications. The first category of reactions involves nucleophilic addition of oxygen bases at the carbon center in metal carbonyls with subsequent oxidation of CO to C02, eqns. 1 and 2 (l, 2). Secondly, there are... 

In the next sections, solid catalysts are classified on the basis of their type of material, the most important types comprising metals, metal oxides, and metal sulfides. It is emphasized, however, that a more fundamental classification is also possible, although it can be developed to only a small degree because the science of catalysis is so complex. The next few paragraphs summarize this alternative classification based on the reactions catalyzed and the structures of intermediates this classification also is a start toward unifying homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, which have traditionally been considered separately. 

During the past few decades, a wide variety of molecules with transition metal-carhon mulhple bonds have been studied. The chemistry of doubly bonded species - carbenes - is particularly interesting because it leads to several synthetically important transformations, and for this reason, metal carbenes are the main subject of this chapter. Our discussion begins with a classification of metal-carbene complexes based on electronic structure, which provides a way to understand their reactivity patterns. Next, we summarize the mechanistic highlights of three metal-carbene-mediated reactions carbonyl olefinafion, olefin cyclopropanafion, and olefin metathesis. Throughout the second half of the chapter, we focus mainly on ruthenium-carbene olefin metathesis catalysts, in part because of widespread interest in the applications of these catalysts, and in part because of our expertise in this area. We conclude with some perspectives on the chemistry of metal carbenes and on future developments in catalysis. 

While major advances in the area of C-H functionalization have been made with catalysts based on rare and expensive transition metals such as rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, and iridium [7], increasing interest in the sustainability aspect of catalysis has stimulated researchers toward the development of alternative catalysts based on naturally abundant first-row transition metals including cobalt [8]. As such, a growing number of cobalt-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions, including those for heterocycle synthesis, have been reported over the last several years to date (early 2015) [9]. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of such recent advancements with classification according to the nature of the catalytically active cobalt species involved in the C-H activation event. Besides inner-sphere C-H activation reactions catalyzed by low-valent and high-valent cobalt complexes, nitrene and carbene C-H insertion reactions promoted by cobalt(II)-porphyrin metalloradical catalysts are also discussed. 

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