Synergistic Catalysis

In a unique method of catalysis known as synergistic catalysis, at least two separate catalysts interact with two different substrates at once to promote interaction between the two activated materials. While a catalyst works to reduce the reaction's total energy, a reaction utilising synergistic catalysts works to raise one of the molecules' HOMO energy level and bring down another's LUMO level. This method is frequently used in biological systems as well, even though it has become crucial in the development of synthetic pathways. Synergistic catalysts have been utilised in a wide range of reactions, particularly where both substrates need to undergo some sort of major activation, either with stoichiometric concentrations of an activator or by a different reaction first. Synergistic catalysis is a particular kind of catalysis in which at least two separate catalysts operate on two different substrates concurrently to promote reaction between the two activated materials. Synergistic catalysts have been utilised in a wide range of reactions, particularly where both substrates require some sort of substantial activation, either with stoichiometric concentrations of an activator or by a different reaction first. Because one catalyst only activates one substrate while the other catalyses the activation of a separate substrate, synergistic catalysts are distinct from other multi-catalyst systems. There are various varieties of multi-catalyst systems, such as double activation catalysts, where two catalysts are needed to activate a single substrate, or cascade catalysts, where a substrate is first transformed before being activated to react by a second catalyst.