Surface organometallic chemistry has been reviewed with a special focus on environmentally relevant transformations (C–H activation, CO₂conversion, oxidation).

For the first time, we have synthesized and grafted (Zr(CH₃)₄(THF)₂) complex on SiO_2–700 and utilized it for the conversion of CO₂ to cyclic carbonates.

SOMC is exploited for synthesizing very fine nanoparticles of Ta_xN_y/TaO_xN_y on silica, elucidating the strategies with DNP SENS and EXAFS.

A silica supported tetramethyl niobium complex [(SiO)NbMe₄] 2 has been isolated by the surface alkylation of [(SiO–)NbCl₃Me] 1 with dimethyl zinc in pentane. 1 can be easily synthesized by grafting NbCl₃Me₂ onto the surface of partially dehydroxylated silica by the SOMC strategy. Precise structural analysis was carried out using FTIR, advanced solid state NMR, elemental analysis and mass balance techniques (gas quantification after treating 2 with degassed water). Complex 1 was found to be active in the ethylene oligomerization reaction, producing up to C₃₀, whereas to our surprise complex 2 selectively dimerized ethylene into 1-butene in the absence of a co-catalyst at the same conversion level.