Homogeneous Catalysis by Some Ruthenium and Rhodium Complexes

One of the most important applications for organometallic compounds is likely to be their use as homogeneous catalysts in the industrial production of organic chemicals. The majority of these catalysts will undoubtedly be complexes of the platinum metals. This article focuses attention on the problems associated with the production and characterisation of catalytically active species formed in solutions of a number of rhodium and ruthenium complexes. Factors determining activity are described and a suggested formulation for an active species is presented.