PTC in PracTiCeKjell SjobergAldrichimica Acta 13(3), 55-58 (1980)
(
https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/ptc.in.practice.pdf)
During the last few years articles and books on phase-transfer catalysis — PTC — have appeared in a steadily increasing stream. The stream is likely to continue increasing and will change conventional chemical syntheses and processes greatly as many areas have been touched upon only briefly. The transfer of hydrophilic ions into a lipophilic organic medium seems strange at first, but in practice the technique is remarkably simple.
For this article I have abstracted PTC information that has been valuable in our own process development work. Some ideas are taken directly from the literature while others have been developed further through our daily use.
Areas focused upon are:
- Replacement of sodium or sodium hydride by 50% NaOH in alkylation reactions
- Extended uses of inorganic salts in organic reactions
- C- vs. O-alkylations
- Transfer of "nonionic" species like H2O2 and HCl
- Extractive separations.
I will also discuss catalyst cost and advantages of catalyst recovery. A simple quantitative analytical method for quaternary ammonium ions, the most common PTC catalysts, is described.
Related article:
Post 531883
(indole_amine: "Phase Transfer Catalysis - Comprehensive Review", Chemistry Discourse)