Rational design of single-site heterogeneous catalysts: towards high chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity

The main methods for the design and preparation of single-site heterogeneous catalysts on inorganic oxide supports are described and reviewed. Catalytically active metal sites can be either introduced into the framework of porous materials via direct synthesis or added to a pre-existing support by post-synthesis techniques. Particular attention is paid to selected examples where the geometry, the nature and the chemical surroundings of the active single site is a key factor to obtain catalytic systems with enhanced chemo-, regio and stereoselectivity. The ever-increasing capabilities of 'nanoarchitecture' at molecular level enable chemists to build ideal catalysts for the sustainable transformation of bulky and high added-value molecules.