Platinum Metals Rev., 2002, 46, (1), 23
Modern Organic Catalytic Reactions
Catalysis of Organic Reactions, Chemical Industries Series, Vol. 82 Edited By Michael E. Ford, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 2001, 629 pages, ISBN 0-8247-0486-X, U.S. $195.00
This book contains papers given at the 18th Conference on Catalysis of Organic Reactions, in Charleston, U.S.A., in 2000. Papers cover a wide range of material including the latest industrial and academic research. Platinum group metals (pgms) remain important and several themes emerge.
Pgms continue to replace base metal catalysts for environmental and cost reasons. In fat hardening (a multi-million tonne industry using base metal catalysts) superior catalytic processes would result in economic, quality and environmental benefits.
Supported homogeneous pgm catalysts continue as a favourite topic, many based on well-known technologies. Pgms are now more widely used in selective oxidation reactions and industrial interest is growing. The work of industrial groups and collaborations looking at ‘real’ problems, besides more fundamental work, is of particular interest.
The Author
Darren Kell is Business Projects Manager at Avecia, Scotland. His interests are in the commercialisation of inkjet printing materials.