Multivalent Cooperative Catalysts

Multivalent systems are well known for their enhanced ability to bind multivalent counterparts. This contribution addresses the question whether they can also behave as cooperative catalysts. Analyzing examples mostly (but not only) from our own laboratory we show what conditions are required for obtaining cooperativity in catalysis. Systems considered range from simple, discrete catalysts to dendrimers and monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles. Reactions taken into considerations for our analysis are the hydrolyses of carboxylate- and phosphate esters.