Kinetic studies as a tool for the elucidation of the mechanisms of metal complex-catalyzed homogeneous hydrogenation reactions

The role of transition metal complexes as catalysts for homogeneous hydrogenation reactions has been extensively investigated during the last few decades. This paper reviews recently disclosed work by a number of research laboratories including ours, which shows that the study of the kinetics of such processes is a particularly important tool which, if used in combination with spectroscopic techniques. isotope labeling, isolation of stable analogues and theoretical calculations, allows the elucidation of the mechanisms operating in a variety of homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation reactions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.