Selectivity Effects in Bimetallic Catalysis

Abstract

An emerging area of homogeneous catalysis is the use of catalysts featuring two closely associated metal sites. This approach complements the traditional focus on single-site catalysts and makes available new parameters with which to optimize catalytic behavior. Single-site catalysts are optimized through changing 1) the identity of the metal, and 2) the steric and electronic properties of the ligands. Bimetallic catalysts introduce new optimization parameters such as 3) catalyst nuclearity (mononuclear vs. binuclear), and 4) bimetallic pairing (relative compatibility of two metal sites). In order to harness these new optimization parameters in developing systems, it is necessary to first understand the origin of bimetallic selectivity effects that already have been documented. This Concept article highlights bimetallic effects on the chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity of catalytic transformations, using selected case studies from the recent literature as illustrative examples.

Keywords: cooperative effects; heterometallic complexes; homogeneous catalysis; metal-metal interactions; organometallic chemistry.