The application of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to homogeneous catalysis

• The application of ESI-MS to homogeneous catalysis is reviewed.
• Inherently, adventitiously and deliberately charged compounds are covered.
• Extraction of kinetic and mechanistic information is examined.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is increasingly being used as a tool to gain mechanistic insights into homogeneous metal-catalyzed reactions. Here we briefly discuss the advantages of ESI-MS for studying solution-phase reactions and review the work that has been conducted in the area to date. In order to investigate any catalytic system by ESI-MS all species of interest must be charged: either inherently, adventitiously or intentionally by installing a charged or chargeable tag. This review will be organized accordingly. In addition, a portion of the review is devoted to the emerging use of ESI-MS to collect continuous kinetic data on reactants, products and reactive intermediates by in situ, real-time analysis of catalytic reaction mixtures. The review covers work in the field up to 2013.

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