Adsorption and Catalysis on the Transition Metals

Abstract

It is impossible to overlook the similarities between the catalytic properties of the transition metals and their oxides and complexes. They all are capable of catalyzing the reactions of hydrogen and olefins: the reactions of H2-D2 exchange; hydrogenation of olefins, diolefins, and alkynes; and some reactions of polymerization and oxidation. The relative strength of bonding of various ligands in complexes corresponds with the strength of chemisorption on the same metal. For example, in the homogeneous carbonyl complexes the strength of bonding of CO with the metal is about the same as the strength of chemisorption of CO on this metal. The same applies to the chemisorption of olefins and the homogeneous complexes of olefins. The catalytic poisons for the reactions catalyzed by metals (the compounds containing the donor-type atoms O, S, N, As, P and other atoms with a free pair of electrons) are poisons also for the reactions catalyzed by complexes.