Platinum in catalysis

Platinum has played a pivotal role in the development of catalysis since it s chemical properties were first investigated in the mid-1700s. Today many processes use platinum as a catalyst and there is no doubt that the metal w ill fill a specific role in the catalyst industry for many years to come. T his derives from the special chemical and physical properties of platinum. In this review, some of these properties are described. Given the wide rang e of industrial (and academic) reactions that are catalysed by platinum, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive overview of the use of the meta l in this role. Rather, some specific examples of platinum-catalysed reacti ons are outlined. Examples are further restricted to colloidal/cluster and heterogeneous catalysts and thus include: refining catalysts, three-way aut omobile catalysts and enantioselective heterogeneous catalysts.