Aspects of Homogeneous Catalysis

In recent years, water phase chemistry and catalysis has witnessed a renewed interest, also in view of increasing environmental and economical concerns. Novel approaches, materials, and catalysts have been designed, for example, to convey the properties of known transition metal catalysts to their water-soluble analogs, reaching high activities and selectivities. This was possible thanks to new synthetic pathways to molecular catalysts, new mechanistic insights into the role of water as a non-innocent solvent, the use of theoretical methods and advanced engineering techniques, and the application of novel concepts for phase transfer agents in biphasic catalysis.