Organicsinorganics

Organicsinorganics is a term used to describe the interdisciplinary study of organic species in inorganic contexts and inorganic influence on organic chemistry. The field examines how organic molecules behave when embedded in inorganic frameworks, matrices, or catalytic environments, and how inorganic components affect reactivity, selectivity, and stability.

Key areas include organics in inorganic materials such as organics bound to metal centers, organic linkers in metal-organic frameworks, and organic dyes in inorganic pigments. The concept also covers catalysis where inorganic hosts or centers interact with organic substrates, including organocatalysis supported on inorganic surfaces and cryptic cooperative effects between organic and inorganic components.

Characterization uses spectroscopy, crystallography, chromatography, and computational modeling; experiments may involve synthesis of composite materials, heterogeneous catalysis, or surface chemistry studies. Challenges include defining the boundary between organic and inorganic domains, and avoiding redundancy with established fields like organometallic chemistry and materials chemistry.

In practice, the term is used in diverse contexts and may serve as a conceptual umbrella rather than a strict discipline. It highlights interdisciplinary collaboration and the potential for innovative materials and processes arising from combining organic reactivity with inorganic frameworks.

Related topics include organocatalysis, organometallic chemistry, metal-organic frameworks, zeolites, and materials chemistry.