Mechanisms of hydrocarbon conversion reactions on heterogeneous catalysts: analogies with organometallic chemistry

Catalysis is central to most industrial processes for chemical manufacturing. As catalytic processes have become more complex and more demanding, selectivity has become the central issue in their design. Selectivity is defined by the relative rates of competing reaction pathways available to crucial intermediates, and can be controlled by subtle changes in the nature of the catalyst, the reactants, and/or the reaction conditions. In order to be able to do this in a systematic manner, a good understanding of the catalytic reaction mechanisms is needed. Here a connection is drawn between the key elementary steps comprising hydrocarbon conversion reactions on surfaces and those known to occur on discrete organometallic complexes. This way, the hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, chain growth, and isomerization reactions typical in heterogeneous catalysis are redefined in terms of hydride elimination, oxidative addition, reductive elimination, migratory insertion, and 1, 2-shift elementary steps, among others. It is suggested that the knowledge already available from organometallic chemistry can be used to further advance the understanding of the surface science involved in heterogeneous catalysis. Thanks to the commonality of the chemistry involved, a better synergy could also be established between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic development. These ideas are discussed in this article in a critical and personal way.*Invited contribution to the special volume entitled The Interface between Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis, stemming from contributions at the recent International Symposium on Relations between Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis, and dedicated to the memory of Robert L. Burwell.