4 - Catalysts and catalysis for acid–base reactions

Abstract

This chapter covers fundamental aspects of solid acid and base catalysis and applications of solid acid and solid base catalysts in 18 acid- or base-catalyzed reactions. The fundamental aspects include advantage of heterogeneous acid and base catalysis over homogeneous ones in industrial processes, definitions of Brønsted acid and base sites, Lewis acid and base sites, roles of these sites in activating reactant molecules, and characterization methods for these sites. The applications include explanations of representative eleven acid-catalyzed reactions and seven base-catalyzed reactions and catalytic properties of seven solid acid catalysts and four solid base catalysts. Finally, brief perspectives are provided.