Concept · chemistry
Catalysis
Follow Catalysis — see important new research and changes in evidence.Change log
What changed
Dated edits to this page's evidence: studies added or removed from a claim, claims added or withdrawn, and new explanations tagged here. Rewordings are not listed.
- Concept page published
Catalysis is rate enhancement by a species that is regenerated, measured as turnover, selectivity, overpotential or productivity versus a stoichiometric control.
Almost every industrial and laboratory synthesis students meet is catalytic — the question is what the catalyst actually does.
Evidence
What the evidence shows
Drawn from 8 studies in this library. Each finding starts with a plain-language takeaway, then the denser detail. Supports means evidence for a finding; Challenges means evidence against a stated position; Qualifies marks scope with a short note on each study’s contribution. Challenged positions are labeled — they are not findings.
This library holds 8 empirical chemistry papers on catalysis with isolated findings, rates or spectra rather than reviews.
- Ru dimer vs monomer splits CO from formate
- Single-atom Co–N–C catalyzes nitroarene azo coupling
- Solid Rh crystals isomerize butene without dissolving
Study Role Design N Population Outcome Ru dimer vs monomer splits CO from formate Supports OtherPhotochemical CO2 reduction with [Ru(bpy)3]2+/Ru carbonyl catalysts varying concentration and light Molecular photocatalysis concentration-dependence study — no sample N DMA/water photoreduction mixtures with Ru catalysts and BNAH TON and CO/formate selectivity as a function of catalyst concentration Single-atom Co–N–C catalyzes nitroarene azo coupling Supports OtherCo–N–C single-atom catalyst identification by STEM/XAS and nitroarene hydrogenation tests Heterogeneous catalysis materials study — no sample N Co–N–C catalysts converting nitroarenes CoN4 site structure and azo-product yield/TOF Solid Rh crystals isomerize butene without dissolving Supports OtherSolid/gas SC-SC organometallic substitutions and polymorphic catalysis of 1-butene isomerization Solid-state organometallic materials — no sample N Molecular organometallic crystals ([1-NBA]/[BArF4] ethene polymorphs) SC-SC reactivity and TOF differences between porous hexagonal and octahedral polymorphs Dilute, bright photolysis of Ru(bpy)(CO)2Cl2 gives CO; concentrated or dim light favours a Ru(I) dimer that makes formate.
A self-supporting Co–N–C single-atom catalyst with a CoN4C8-1-2O2 site hydrogenatively couples nitroarenes to azo compounds.
A crystalline Rh σ-alkane complex swaps NBA for alkenes in the solid state and the porous ethene polymorph isomerizes 1-butene with high TOF.
A Pt(II) weak-link tweezer and a sulfonate regulator switch a squaramide–amine co-catalyst fully on or off in situ.
Open questions
Tensions and limits
Some items are genuine disagreements on the same question. Others mark different assays, populations, or outcomes — limits on how far one study travels — not a forced fight between papers.
Heterogeneous, molecular and dual photoredox/metal systems are not interchangeable; support, ligand and light each change the active site.
Study Role Design N Population Outcome Ru dimer vs monomer splits CO from formate Supports OtherPhotochemical CO2 reduction with [Ru(bpy)3]2+/Ru carbonyl catalysts varying concentration and light Molecular photocatalysis concentration-dependence study — no sample N DMA/water photoreduction mixtures with Ru catalysts and BNAH TON and CO/formate selectivity as a function of catalyst concentration Single-atom Co–N–C catalyzes nitroarene azo coupling Supports OtherCo–N–C single-atom catalyst identification by STEM/XAS and nitroarene hydrogenation tests Heterogeneous catalysis materials study — no sample N Co–N–C catalysts converting nitroarenes CoN4 site structure and azo-product yield/TOF
Common misconceptions
A catalyst just 'speeds things up' without changing the product mix.
Selectivity and poisoning often matter more than raw rate.
Exam-style questions
Short-answer questions that ask you to explain or compare, not recall.
What does catalysis mean in this chemistry library?
Catalysis is rate enhancement by a species that is regenerated, measured as turnover, selectivity, overpotential or productivity versus a stoichiometric control.
Name one empirical finding from the catalysis papers.
Dilute, bright photolysis of Ru(bpy)(CO)2Cl2 gives CO; concentrated or dim light favours a Ru(I) dimer that makes formate.
What is a limit of catalysis evidence here?
Heterogeneous, molecular and dual photoredox/metal systems are not interchangeable; support, ligand and light each change the active site.
The studies
8 studies in this library bear on Catalysis, ordered by citations.
- Single-atom Co–N–C catalyzes nitroarene azo coupling
A self-supporting Co–N–C single-atom catalyst with a CoN4C8-1-2O2 site hydrogenatively couples nitroarenes to azo compounds.
- Evolved RebH chlorinates indoles at C5, C6 or C7
Mass-spectrometry-guided evolution of RebH produced variants that chlorinate tryptamine ortho, meta or para to the indole nitrogen without a synthetic directing group.
- Ru dimer vs monomer splits CO from formate
Dilute, bright photolysis of Ru(bpy)(CO)2Cl2 gives CO; concentrated or dim light favours a Ru(I) dimer that makes formate.
- Pyrazine reservoirs that lower cobalt HER overpotential
Moving a redox-active pyrazine on a cobalt polypyridine ligand cuts hydrogen-evolution overpotential by about 200 mV versus pyridine analogues in water.
- A MOF that merges Cu and Ru photocatalysis
CR–BPY1 places copper ions next to a Ru-substituted polyoxometalate so N-phenyl-THIQ and ketones couple under an 18 W lamp with pore size-selectivity.
- Solid Rh crystals isomerize butene without dissolving
A crystalline Rh σ-alkane complex swaps NBA for alkenes in the solid state and the porous ethene polymorph isomerizes 1-butene with high TOF.
- Magnetic Cu-on-pumice catalyst for nitro reductions
A cellulose-textured volcanic-pumice magnetite composite bearing copper nanoparticles reduces nitrobenzenes to anilines in eight minutes.
- On–off allosteric control of a bifunctional catalyst
A Pt(II) weak-link tweezer and a sulfonate regulator switch a squaramide–amine co-catalyst fully on or off in situ.
Learn alongside