Bimetallic Systems for Tandem Catalytic Reaction Pathways
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Abstract
Bimetallic catalytic systems have emerged as powerful platforms for enabling tandem reaction pathways that combine multiple chemical transformations in a single operational sequence. These systems leverage the synergistic interactions between two distinct metal centers to facilitate consecutive or cooperative catalytic steps, offering advantages in terms of process efficiency, selectivity, and sustainability compared to conventional single-metal catalysts or sequential batch processes. This comprehensive review examines the fundamental design principles, mechanistic aspects, and diverse applications of bimetallic systems across various tandem catalytic transformations. Special emphasis is placed on the structural configurations that enable effective dual-site catalysis, including spatially separated metal centers, proximal active sites within coordination frameworks, and artificial metalloenzyme architectures. The review discusses key applications in organic synthesis, electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction, water oxidation, ammonia oxidation, and waste valorization processes. Through detailed analysis of catalyst-substrate interactions, electronic coupling effects, and cooperative mechanisms, this work provides insights into how rational design of bimetallic systems can unlock new synthetic routes and enhance catalytic performance for sustainable chemical production.
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