Applications of EPR and NMR Spectroscopy in Homogeneous Catalysis

This book reviews advances in important and practically relevant homogeneous catalytic transformations, such as single-site olefin polymerizations and chemo- and stereo-selective oxidations. Close attention is paid to the experimental investigation of the active sites of catalytic oxidation systems and their mechanisms. Major subjects include the applications of NMR and EPR spectroscopic techniques and data obtained by other physical methods. The book addresses a broad readership and focus on widespread techniques available in labs with NMR and EPR spectrometers.

"Initially, we aimed at advertising the rich and versatile capabilities of the magnetic resonance spectroscopy for a broad audience of homogeneous catalytic and organic chemists. When elaborating the book proposal, it became clear that the book should also serve to uncover the basic principles of the NMR and EPR phenomena, and advantages and drawbacks of spectroscopic techniques founded thereupon (essentially keeping in mind the needs of graduate students and their supervisors). That is why the book begins with a short introduction to the basic principles of NMR and EPR spectroscopy (Chapter 1), which could be helpful for the readers in following the interpretation of experimental spectra discussed in the book. Chapter 2 is aimed at demonstrating the utility of various 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic techniques, and at getting insight into the information it can provide. Also, some aspects of the NMR of paramagnetic molecules are discussed in Chapter 2.

The rest of the book is an overview of advancements in the NMR and EPR spectroscopic investigations of the mechanisms of two types of homogeneous catalytic processes: (1) chemo- and stereoselective oxidation of organic substrates, promoted by transition metal complexes (Chapter 3), and (2) coordination–insertion polymerization and oligomerization of olefins over single-site (metallocene and post-metallocene) catalysts (Chapter 4). The scope of the review is purely the authors’ choice; we mostly adhered to those research areas that have attracted much interest from industry and academia in the last 20–30 years."