Synergistic catalysis, a type of
plural catalysis which utilizes
at least two different catalysts to enable a reaction between two
separately activated substrates, has unlocked a plethora of previously
unattainable transformations and novel chemical reactivity. Despite
the appreciable utility of synergistic catalysis, specific examples
involving two transition metals have been limited, as ensuring a judicious
choice of reaction parameters to prevent deactivation of catalysts,
undesirable monocatalytic event(s) leading to side products, or premature
termination and other potentially troublesome outcomes present a formidable
challenge. Excluding those driven by photocatalytic mechanisms, this
review will highlight the reported examples of reactions that make
use of two simultaneous catalytic cycles driven by two transition
metal catalysts.