Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2025, Vol. 78: 7-24.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64824-8

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Discovery and development of cocktail-type catalysis

Anton L. Maximova,*(), Mikhail P. Egorovb,*()   

  1. aTopchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia
    bZelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia
  • Received:2025-05-18 Accepted:2025-07-28 Online:2025-11-18 Published:2025-10-14
  • Contact: *E-mail: max@ips.ac.ru (A. Maximov), mpe@ioc.ac.ru (M. Egorov).
  • About author:Anton Maximov (Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences) was born in 1970 in Moscow. He graduated from the Department of Chemistry of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) in 1992, and received his Ph.D. degree in 1996 at MSU. He received his Doctor of Sciences degree in 2005 at the MSU. In 2013 he was awarded the Russian government prize in science and technology. In 2019, he was elected a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and in 2025, he became an Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the field of chemistry He is the director of Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis (from 2017). The co-author of >300 publications and 50 patents. His research interests focus on refining and petroleum chemistry, catalysis, C1-chemistry and biorefining.
    Mikhail Egorov (Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences) was born in 1953 in Zvenigorod (Moscow region). He graduated from the Department of Chemistry of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) in 1976, and received his Ph.D. degree in 1980 at MSU. In 1988-1989 he was a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He received his Doctor of Sciences degree in 1992 at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the USSR Academy of Sciences. In 1997, he was elected a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and in 2008, he became an Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the field of organic chemistry. In 2001, he was awarded the Russian State Prize for outstanding achievements in science and technology. He was the director of Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (2003-2023). Currently, he is the Head of Division of Chemistry and Materials Sciences of Russian Academy of Sciences (from 2017). The co-author of >300 publications. His research interests focus on organic chemistry, physical organic chemistry and organometallic chemistry.

Abstract:

Catalysis is a cornerstone of modern chemistry, enabling the development of sustainable processes and the production of essential chemicals. However, a fundamental challenge in catalysis lies in understanding the nature of the catalytic species and active centers, particularly the key mechanistic understanding of homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. This review describes the concept of “cocktail”-type catalysis, demonstrating that catalytic active species are not static but evolve through the interconversion of molecular complexes, clusters, and nanoparticles. By bridging homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, this paradigm challenges conventional mechanistic views and initiates discussions for a universal theory of catalysis. The findings highlight the importance of adaptive catalyst behavior, leading to more efficient, selective, and robust catalytic systems. The impact of the “cocktail”-type approach extends beyond fundamental research, offering practical applications in industrial catalysis, green chemistry, and synthetic methodologies. By embracing catalytic dynamics, new opportunities arise for designing next-generation catalysts that are both versatile and highly effective in diverse transformations.

Key words: Catalysis, Mechanisms, Homogeneous catalysis, Heterogeneous catalysis, Dynamics of catalytic centers, Catalyst activation, Catalyst degradation