The Degree of Rate Control: A Powerful Tool for Catalysis Research

Abstract

The “degree of rate control” (DRC) is a mathematical approach for analyzing multistep reaction mechanisms that has proven very useful in catalysis research. It identifies the “rate-controlling transition states and intermediates” (i.e., those whose DRCs are large in magnitude). Even in mechanisms with over 30 intermediates and transition states, these are generally just a few distinct chemical species whose energies, if they could be independently changed, would achieve a faster net reaction rate to the product of interest. For example, when there is a single “rate-determining step”, the DRC for its transition state (TS) is 1, which means (by definition) that if this TS’s energy could be decreased by kBT (where kB is Boltzmann’s constant and T is temperature), the net rate would increase by a factor of e. Because the (relative) energies of these key adsorbed intermediates and transition states can be adjusted by modifying the catalyst or solvent, or even a reactant’s molecular structure, the DRC values pr...