Catalysts can make understanding organic reactions quite tricky, especially when it comes to thermodynamics and kinetics.

1. Thermodynamic Influence:

   • Catalysts do not change the Gibbs free energy ($\Delta G$) of the reaction.
   • This means they can’t make reactions happen that aren’t naturally favorable.
   • This can be frustrating when we want to create reactions that reach a specific balance.

2. Kinetic Barriers:

   • Catalysts can lower the activation energy ($E_a$), which helps the reaction happen faster.
   • However, finding the right catalyst can be tough and often takes a lot of trial and error.
   • To tackle these problems, we need advanced computer models and hands-on experiments to pick the best catalysts.

In short, while catalysts are important, using them effectively requires a lot of time, resources, and expertise.