The aim of this module is to give students a broad, interdisciplinary, background in catalysis across the traditional divides within chemistry.

(LO1) Students will understand the fundamentally cyclic nature of catalytic processes (energy span approximation).

(LO2) Students will be able to recognize mechanistic parallels between heterogeneous, homogeneous and biocatalytic reactions.

(LO3) Students will be able to evaluate the experimental evidence for and against a proposed catalysis mechanism.

(LO4) Students will be aware of significant industrial applications of catalysis.

(S1) Problem solving

Lectures. 30 x 1 hr lectures; extra sessions may be scheduled for revision.
Lectures in the three sections will be given in parallel to allow students adequate time to absorb new concepts.

Coursework. 6 problem sets, 3 of which are assessed.
Each section will be supported by 2 problem sets, one of which is assessed. Feedback is given for both formative and summative coursework.

*Lectures: 30 hr

The module is divided into three components:

Organometallic Catalysis
This section of the module will introduce students to further applications of organometallic complexes of transition metals in catalysis, broadening the scope of the ractions covered in Chem333.
The approach is via worked examples chosen for both synthetic and commercial significance.

Organic and Bio-organic Catalysis
This section introduces common modes of organic catalysis, with explanation of how these apply to evolved biological catalysts (enzymes):
Catalytic cycles and the energy span model, electrophilic catalysis (EC) and nucleophilic catalysis (NC).
Acid and base catalysis (SAC, SBC, GAC, GBC), pH profiles, Bronsted, solvent KIEs, medium effects (including micellar catalysis).
Intramolecular catalysis (i-NC, i-GAC, i-GBC), effective concentrations, bifunctional and organocatalysis.
Enzyme catalysis, kinetics and general thermodynamic principles.
Proteases and gly cosidases (basic mechanisms).
Enzyme covalent catalysis (basic cofactor mechanisms).

Heterogeneous Catalysis
This section aims to give an integrated description of the basic principles of heterogeneous catalysis, including the role of active sites on the solid surface and importance of adsorption phenomena in the determination of reaction kinetics, and uses different classes of catalysts and well-known catalytic processes as examples to apply these notions.
Also examined are the importance of transport limitations (heat and mass transfer) in porous solid catalysts and molecular shape selectivity in zeolite catalysts.
A general view is thus provided of major factors which determine the behaviour of heterogeneous catalysts, and their importance is illustrated through the discussion of case examples selected from important catalytic applications.