Book excerpt: Defines the emerging field of catalytic reaction synthesis in the search for new catalysts and catalytic processes. Illustrates how experimental data from diverse sources can be consolidated to form a quantitative description of the essential chemistry taking place on the catalyst surface. Elucidates the possible relationships between catalyst kinetic properties and surface chemical bonding properties. Offers examples of microkinetic analysis and catalytic reaction synthesis for a variety of catalytic reactions over metals, oxides, and zeolite catalysts. Illustrates the underlying strategy used to formulate a microkinetic model, calibrate the model to the existing experimental data, and assess the critical aspects of the essential surface chemistry involved in the catalytic process.