Elucidation of inorganic reaction mechanisms. Application of high pressure

The application of high pressure techniques in mechanistic studies of inorg anic reactions in solution, can contribute towards the elucidation of the u nderlying reaction mechanisms. The fundamental principles involved, the gen eral instrumentation employed, the construction of volume profiles and thei r mechanistic interpretation, are discussed. Typical examples covering vari ous types of reactions in inorganic, organometallic and bioinorganic system s, that occur on a range of different time scales. are presented. The advan tage of pressure as a physical variable and mechanistic indicator is consid ered and an evaluation of the mechanistic insight gained is given.