Phase transfer catalyst

A phase transfer catalyst or PTC in chemistry is a catalyst which facilitates the migration of a reactant in a heterogeneous system from one phase into another phase where reaction can take place. Ionic reactants are often soluble in an aqueous phase but insoluble in an organic phase unless the phase transfer catalyst is present. Phase transfer catalysis (also PTC) refers to the acceleration of the reaction by the phase transfer catalyst.

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Phase transfer catalysts for anion reactants are often quaternary ammonium salts. The corresponding catalysts for cations are often crown ethers. A PTC works by encapsulating the ion. The PTC-ion system has a hydrophilic interior containing the ion and a hydrophobic exterior.

For example, the nucleophilic aliphatic substitution reaction of an aqueous sodium cyanide solution with the alkyl halide 1-bromooctane does not ordinarily take place because 1-bromooctane will not dissolve in the aqueous solution. By the addition of small amounts of a phosphonium salt such as hexadecyltributylphosphonium bromide, cyanide ions can be ferried from the water phase into an organic phase (e.g., bromooctane + some hydrocarbon). With the phase transfer catalyst, nonanenitrile (1-cyanooctane) forms quantitatively in 90 minutes at reflux.^[1]

C₈H₁₇Br(org) + NaCN(aq) → C₈H₁₇CN(org) + NaBr(aq) (catalyzed by a R₄P⁺Cl⁻ PTC)

Subsequent work by Herriott and Picker^[2] demonstrated that many such reactions can be performed rapidly at around room temperature by using catalysts such as tetra-n-butylammonium bromide or methyltrioctylammonium chloride in benzene/water systems.

By using a PTC process, one can achieve faster reactions, obtain higher conversions or yields, make fewer byproducts, eliminate the need for expensive or dangerous solvents which dissolve all the reactants in one phase, eliminate the need for expensive raw materials and/or minimize waste problems. Phase transfer catalysts are especially useful in green chemistry — by allowing the use of water, the need for organic solvents is reduced.^[3][4]

Contrary to common perception, PTC is not limited to systems with aqueous and organic soluble reactants. PTC is sometimes employed in liquid/solid and liquid/gas reactions. As the name implies, one or more of the reactants are transported into a second phase, which contains the other reactants.

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