1906 B. Moore in L. Hill Rec. Adv. Physiol. & Bio-Chem. iv. 112 In an auto-catalytic reaction, as the quantity of auto-catalyst increases as the reaction proceeds, the reaction is correspondingly hastened.

1940 C. S. Sherrington Man on his Nature v. 163 And the gene? A protein system containing auto~catalysts?

1952 G. H. Bourne Cytol. & Cell Physiol. (ed. 2) ix. 392 The suggestion has been advanced that viruses are complex auto-catalysts.

2004 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101 5733/3 The autocatalyst must be capable not only of producing itself but also of suppressing..production of its enantiomer.

1973 Times 26 Jan. 22/3 Mining shares were unable to escape the general shakeout, although there was some demand for platinum issues on the latest developments in the auto-catalyst situation.

1988 J. Elkington & J. Hailes Green Consumer Guide (1989) 120 In the tenth of a second that it takes exhaust hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides to pass through an autocatalyst built into a car's exhaust system, 90 per cent are turned into less harmful carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapour.

2007 Mmegi (Botswana) (Nexis) 9 Oct. The autocatalysts used to clean exhaust fumes actually account for a large part of global platinum demand.