Pnictocatalysis

Abstract

2D materials based on Group 15 elements (pnictogens) have appeared during the last ten years, with a rich surface chemistry characterized by a plethora of dangling electron pairs, ready to interact with outer molecules. These molecular interactions enable catalytic properties beyond any external electro− or photo−stimulus. In analogy with carbocatalysis, defined as thermal catalytic processes over extended carbon surfaces (graphene, nanotubes, etc.), we propose here the term “pnictocatalysis”, defined as thermal catalytic processes over extended pnictogen surfaces (which include phospho−, arsene−, antimony− and bismuth−catalysis). Pnictocatalysis consitutes a new field in catalysis, with unexplored latent reactions to be encountered. In this minireview, we show the few examples found to date (not more than ten), which mark the pathway to find new pnictocatalyzed reactions, not exclusive with two−dimensional (2D) materials but also with other pnictogen nanostructures.