Recoverable catalysts. Ultimate goals, criteria of evaluation, and the green chemistry interface

Abstract

Attempts are made to define the "ideal synthesis", "ideal catalyst", and "ideal recoverable catalyst". Although these unattainable limits can never be realized, they help to focus attention on attributes chemists should strive for. Criteria for evaluating catalyst recovery are analyzed, and increased attention to the critical and constructive evaluation of competing "green" chemical technologies is advocated.