Future Trends in Organometallic Chemistry: Organometallic Approaches to Water Splitting

Advances in the field of organometallic chemistry have historically been driven by the imperatives of the petrochemical industry. Catalytic manipulation of C-H and C-C bonds is now at an advanced stage of sophistication, although significant opportunities continue to exist in this aspect of organometallic chemistry. However, application of the formidable toolbox of organometallic chemistry-developed in the context of hydrocarbon chemistry-to the sustainable production of environmentally benign solar fuels is a research problem that humanity needs organometallic chemists to tackle. Organometallic approaches to water splitting driven by sunlight will constitute a growing area of focus in the coming years.