True Catalysts

Many compounds have been used as precatalysts for different reactions in the presence of various chemical oxidants and reductants, or under electro-photochemical conditions. Currently, the advances in characterization techniques and different spectroscopic methods enable a better understanding of true catalysts and their related pathways [1-3]. In all the reactions for true catalysis studies, one of the most important points is that the kinetics, and the rate law for each species present, to unequivocally determine the true catalyst and no true catalyst can be identified without a rate law. Interestingly, recent experiments have shown that many known catalysts are the precursors to catalysts rather than true catalysts (Scheme 1) [1-3]. In the 21st century, it is necessary to develop the field of catalysis by seriously monitoring, without prejudice to find true catalysts. This issue is very important and relevant to the design and synthesis of efficient and stable catalysts. Herein, we focus on some true catalysts in various reactions.