Possible Surface Intermediates in Alkane Reactions on Metallic Catalysts

The knowledge of the mechanism of action of most heterogeneous catalysts remains limited. At the most primitive level, the overall product distribution is often known, but the nature of the catalyst-reactant interactions remains unknown. In a few cases, a more detailed proposition of mechanism can be advanced, but these propositions remain modest and ineffective in comparison with mechanistic details that have been developed in molecular organic and organometallic chemistry. It must be recognized, however, that, by comparison with strictly molecular systems, heterogeneous catalysts are intrinsically much more complicated. At this stage it is not intended to propose new mechanisms, rather, it seems more appropriate to try to combine the various past proposals with the intention of improving our understanding of hydrocarbon reactions over metallic catalysts.