The investigation of chemical reactions in the gas phase has a decades long history, with roots tracing back to the beginning availability of appropriate mass spectrometric techniques. Early on in this context, e.g., metal atoms or small metal clusters were proposed as model systems for catalytic reactions. The experimental realization of this approach, i.e. the direct investigation of catalytic reaction cycles or at least of some of the involved reaction steps, however, could be achieved successfully only in recent years.

This is due on one hand to innovations and advancements in the experimental methodology, but on the other hand also to the increasing awareness of the importance of very small particles or molecular systems for real catalytic materials. Crucial in this regard are, e.g., also charging effects, which may decisively determine the reactivity of catalytically active centers and which can be perfectly modeled in the gas phase; or the possibility to isolate reactive intermediates. Furthermore, isolated and well defined gas phase systems are ideally suited for simulations employing state of the art quantum theoretical methods. In particular the unmatched high complementarity and comparability of experiment and theory in the case of gas phase investigations bears an enormous potential for the modeling of the complex processes in catalytic reaction systems.

The aim of this symposium will thus be to reflect the actual state of the application of gas phase systems as model systems in catalysis and to evaluate the perspectives for future tangible research directions. Thereby, the subjects treated will be well focused with respect to the methodology of gas phase investigations. Yet, concerning the catalyzed reactions and the catalyst systems a wide spectrum ranging from metal atoms and clusters over oxide materials up to biologically relevant questions (enzymes, photosynthesis) will be covered.

Selected recent overviews:
Lang, S. M., Bernhardt, T. M., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2012, 14, 9255
Castleman Jr., A. W., Catal. Lett. 2011, 141, 1243
Schlangen, M., Schwarz, H., Catal. Lett. 2012, 142, 1265