Structurally-Responsive Ligands for High-Performance Catalysts
Johanna M. Blacquiere
Abstract
Hemilabile ligands that undergo reversible changes in denticity have long been exploited to enable catalyst activation and to increase lifetime. However, this common description does not fully reflect reality with respect to the diversity of known ligand types, modes of action, and impacts on catalysis. The term structurally responsive ligand (SRL) is employed here to encompass ligands that exhibit self-tuning denticity, hapticity, or versatile coordination. This Perspective covers case study examples of SRLs in catalysis and their influence on catalyst lifetime, rate, and selectivity. The examples include leading and emerging catalysts for enabling transformations, which emphasizes both the breadth and significance of this class of ligands.