Homogeneous catalysis
catalysis in a solution by a soluble catalyst
In chemistry, homogeneous catalysis is catalysis where the catalyst is in same phase as reactants, principally by a soluble catalyst in a solution. In contrast, heterogeneous catalysis describes processes where the catalysts and substrate are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas, respectively. The term is used almost exclusively to describe solutions and implies catalysis by organometallic compounds. Homogeneous catalysis is an established technology that continues to evolve. An illustrative major application is the production of acetic acid. Enzymes are examples of homogeneous catalysts.
Examples
Acid catalyst
The proton is a pervasive homogeneous catalyst because water is the most common solvent. Water forms protons by the process of self-ionization of water. In an illustrative case, acids accelerate (catalyze) the hydrolysis of esters:
CH3CO2CH3 + H2O ⇌ CH3CO2H + CH3OH
At neutral pH, aqueous solutions of most esters do not hydrolyze at practical rates.
Transition metal-catalysis
Hydrogenation and related reactions
A prominent class of reductive transformations are hydrogenations.
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