Molecular Catalysis

When the term "molecular catalysis" is employed, it explicitly refers to catalysis in which all reaction constituents are dissolved in the same liquid phase. Many different sectors, where precise control over chemical reactivity is essential, rely heavily on molecular catalysis. Size, content, and reactivity of molecular catalysts may all be highly customised. Molecular catalysts have an advantage over other types of catalysts, such as solid-state catalysts, in that their tunability, or ease of modifying catalyst characteristics, permits comparison studies that focus on the impact of certain structural or electrical modifications on the catalyst's reactivity. Many molecular catalysts are organometallic, consisting of a metal bound to organic molecules known as ligands. These ligands can be changed or chemically altered to increase reaction speeds.