Activating Unreactive Substrates: The Role of Secondary Interactions

Current knowledge about the reaction mechanisms of various metalloenzymes and catalysts demonstrates that substrate conversions occurring at the metal center are controlled by secondary interactions. Such secondary interactions comprise all properties within the ligands of a coordination compound -- yet outside of the first coordination sphere -- which influence the reaction profile at the metal center. Direct utilization of the variable "secondary interactions" allows the electronic structure, geometry and reactivity of coordination compounds to be controlled, allowing a catalytic activation and functionalization of natural and unreactive bulk gases of the atmosphere and simple hydrocarbons.
This first comprehensive treatment of this important approach in catalysis research covers the entire field and reveals the links between the various chemical disciplines. It thus adopts an interdisciplinary approach, making it of interest to the whole chemical community.
A must for chemists.