Abstract: Transition metal-catalyzed organic reactions are widely employed in industrial catalysis and natural product synthesis. Despite their long-standing research history, transition metal catalysis continues to reveal immense potential within organic chemistry, giving rise to diverse and ever-expanding research directions. Consequently, establishing a solid theoretical foundation in transition metal catalysis is essential for undergraduate students to engage with cutting-edge developments in this field. This article begins by introducing the types, mechanisms, and characteristics of elementary reactions involved in transition metal catalysis, followed by a systematic examination of how these elementary steps are integrated, illustrated through classic named reactions. The overarching goal is to provide a coherent overview of transition metal catalysis from the perspective of fundamental organic chemistry, thereby deepening chemistry undergraduates’ understanding of reaction mechanisms, reaction behavior, and representative case studies, and offering theoretical support for their comprehension and exploration of frontier advances in this area.

Key words: Transition metal catalysis, Elementary reaction, Catalytic cycle, Undergraduate organic chemistry