Spatiotemporal control for integrated catalysis

Integrated catalysis is an emerging methodology that can streamline the multistep synthesis of complicated products in a single reaction vessel, achieving a high degree of control and reducing the waste and cost of the overall process. Integrated catalysis utilizes spatial and temporal control to couple different catalytic cycles in one pot. This primer discusses commonly employed spatial and temporal approaches and their underlying mechanisms, and elaborates on how the integration of spatially and temporally controlled catalysis in one pot can deliver the synthesis of complex products with high efficiency. We highlight recent advances, analyze current applications and limitations, and provide an outlook for the future development of integrated catalysis.