Implementation of Cooperative Designs in Polarized Transition Metal Systems-Significance for Bond Activation and Catalysis

Abstract

Bond activation and catalysis are central to the development of a sustainable energy system. Frustrated Lewis Pairs have conceptually revolutionized the activation of inert chemical bonds. Far less developed are hybrid systems containing at least one transition metal as part of the electron-donating/accepting composition. These cooperative transition metal architectures present advantages over traditional systems. For instance, they incorporate, to the concept of FLPs, the movement of electron pairs as typically encountered in the elementary steps of organometallic catalysis. This Perspective presents arguably the most relevant and recent progress of a vivid field of research that aspires to implement cooperative designs in polarized transition metal systems. Moreover, it provides tools for future developments and shows that molecular control over bond-making and-breaking processes can be achieved.