Hydrogen Tunneling in Stoichiometric and Catalytic Reactions involving Transition Metals

Abstract

Hydrogen tunneling is a type of quantum tunneling in which a hydrogen atom passes through a potential barrier without reaching the transition state governed by classical mechanics. The participation of hydrogen tunneling in a chemical reaction (stoichiometric or catalytic) can result in the formation of products that without this phenomenon would be impossible to achieve or would be formed in a very slow way. This concept paper aims to review some of the most representative examples of transition-metal mediated chemical reactions involving hydrogen tunneling. The experimental tools to determine the possibility of the participation of quantum tunneling in a chemical reaction are presented. In addition, the theoretical methods that have been developed to calculate the effect of quantum tunneling on chemical reactions are discussed. Finally, from a personal perspective, the steps to be taken in order to predict and implement this phenomenon are proposed.