Metalcatalysed

Metalcatalysed refers to chemical reactions that are facilitated or accelerated by the presence of a metal or a metal compound acting as a catalyst. These catalysts participate in the reaction mechanism by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, thereby increasing the rate of the reaction without being consumed in the overall process. The metal catalyst typically interacts with the reactants through coordination, oxidation-reduction processes, or by forming reactive intermediates.

A wide variety of transition metals and their complexes are employed as metal catalysts. Common examples include platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, copper, and iron. The specific metal and its oxidation state, as well as the ligands coordinated to it, play a crucial role in determining the catalyst's activity and selectivity for a particular transformation. Metalcatalysed reactions are fundamental to many industrial processes, including the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, polymers, petrochemicals, and fine chemicals. They are also widely used in environmental applications, such as in catalytic converters for vehicles to reduce harmful emissions. The versatility and efficiency of metalcatalysed reactions make them an indispensable tool in modern chemistry.