New directions in gold catalysis

In the last decade there has been an explosion in the interest shown in catalysis by gold. It is now recognised that gold has unique properties as a catalyst for many reactions with pre-eminence in heterogeneous catalytic oxidation. This paper sets out the general content of a keynote lecture delivered at the second world congress on gold in Vancouver in 2003. The background to this significant interest is discussed and the early work in the field is placed in context. The current areas of interest are described and two reactions, namely the oxidation of glycerol to glyceric acid and the formation of hydrogen peroxide from the oxidation of molecular hydrogen, are discussed. The prospects for future discoveries are also considered.