Catalytic cycle

In <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, a catalytic cycle is a multistep <a href="/facts/Reaction_mechanism/9lanyVuy">reaction mechanism</a> that involves a <a href="/facts/Catalyst/LPBS7TQC">catalyst</a>. The catalytic cycle is the main method for describing the role of catalysts in <a href="/facts/Biochemistry/fa2pWEBp">biochemistry</a>, <a href="/facts/Organometallic_chemistry/bhqFz2P0">organometallic chemistry</a>, <a href="/facts/Bioinorganic_chemistry/4JJEL3t1">bioinorganic chemistry</a>, <a href="/facts/Materials_science/N5HrXRYW">materials science</a>, etc. 
Since catalysts are regenerated, catalytic cycles are usually written as a sequence of <a href="/facts/Chemical_reaction/GpqWlKrz">chemical reactions</a> in the form of a loop. In such loops, the initial step entails binding of one or more <a href="/facts/Reactant/c3GLInCu">reactants</a> by the catalyst, and the final step is the release of the <a href="/facts/Product_(chemistry)/8uCoDUdv">product</a> and regeneration of the catalyst. Articles on the <a href="/facts/Monsanto_process/HdDDK3WC">Monsanto process</a>, the <a href="/facts/Wacker_process/VnNYfF2c">Wacker process</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Heck_reaction/I9E7pLUC">Heck reaction</a> show catalytic cycles.

A catalytic cycle is not necessarily a full reaction mechanism. For example, it may be that the <a href="/facts/Reactive_intermediate/6pajSrDX">intermediates</a> have been detected, but it is not known by which mechanisms the actual <a href="/facts/Elementary_reaction/EHoFw8rl">elementary reactions</a> occur.

Catalytic cycle open-in-new

Catalytic cycle