Electron-Donating Capability: A Unified Descriptor Expanding the Concept of Basicity in Catalysis

The development of solid-base catalysts has been constrained by a classification system based on material composition. This analysis of catalytic performance data across diverse materials—from conventional metal oxides to reduced metals—reveals the electron-donating capability of the active center as a universal activity descriptor. It rationalizes performance in representative reactions including transesterification and decarbonylation, demonstrating functional equivalence across traditionally distinct material families. Our findings provide a new analytical framework that shifts the design paradigm from chemical identity to fundamental electronic properties, with broad implications for catalyst design.