An Introduction to the Field of Catalysis by Molecular Clusters

Summary

• 1 A Short Introduction to Molecular Clusters

• 1.1 Definition of molecular clusters

• 1.2 Bonding in molecular clusters

• 1.3 Dynamic behaviour of cluster compounds

• 1.4 Reactivity of molecular clusters

• 1.5 Molecular clusters as structural models of intermediates or chemisorbed species in surface science.

• 2 Catalysis by Molecular Clusters

• 2.1 The relationship between molecular clusters and small metal particles

• 2.2 Homogeneous cluster catalyzed reactions

• 2.3 Catalysis by supported molecular clusters

• 2.4 Supported clusters and Heterogeneous catalysis: Surface organometallic chemistry.

The purpose of this lecture is not to make an extensive survey of the field of molecular clusters in coordination chemistry, field which is expanding very rapidly in various directions, but to present a short introduction of the field of catalysis by clusters for the scientific community of surface science. This community is not always aware of the progresses in molecular chemistry and more specifically in molecular clusters which are at the boarder line between solid state and molecular state. The examples which will be given will be taken from recent reviews in the field of molecular clusters (1–5) in the field of catalysis by molecular clusters (6–7) as well as in the field of surface organometallic chemistry (8–14). For a deeper approach of the considered fields it is suggested to refer to those specialized review articles.