What Role Does the Catalyst Play in Bond Formation?
The catalyst interacts with the reactants to form intermediate species that are more favorable for bond formation. These interactions can include:
- Coordination: Metal catalysts often coordinate with reactants, stabilizing them and making the reactants more reactive. - Proton Transfer: Acid or base catalysts can facilitate the transfer of protons, which is crucial in many organic reactions. - Surface Reactions: In heterogeneous catalysis, reactants adsorb onto the catalyst surface, where bond formation can be facilitated by the catalyst's active sites.
