Platinum group metals in catalysis: Fabrication of catalysts and catalyst precursors

This short review article presents an overview of the preparation of platinum group metal complexes that are utilized as catalysts or catalyst precursors. The organization of this article begins with a description of the sources of the platinum group metals, goes through their basic refining and separation methodologies, and then into each individual metal's elaboration into value-added coordination and organometallic complexes that have demonstrated applications in homogeneous catalysis. The objective of this article is to explain how these catalysts are synthesized and the wide variety of organic transformations that are catalyzed by platinum group metal complexes. One conclusion that can be drawn from the article is that the further elaboration of the complexity of platinum group metal catalysts goes hand-in-hand with the selectivity of the particular organic transformation being catalyzed.