1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reaction mixtures and processes which employ an .omega.-phase catalyst for carrying out displacement reactions at a substantially enhanced rate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of phase transfer catalysts to bring together two mutually insoluble reagents in sufficient concentration to attain conveniently rapid reaction rates has been described in the literature. C. Starks and C. Liotta, Phase Transfer Catalysis (1978); W. Weber and G. Gokel, Phase Transfer Catalysts in Organic Synthesis (1980); E. Dehmlow and S. Dehmlow, Phase Transfer Catalysis (1983); and H. A. Zahalka and Y. Sasson, J. Chem. Soc. Commun. (1984), p. 1652.
Generally a phase transfer catalyst functions as a vehicle for transferring the anion of a metal salt from the aqueous or solid phase into the organic phase wherein reaction can occur with an organic reactant dissolved therein. Accordingly, it has been assumed that the rate of reaction is proportional to the concentration of catalyst in the organic phase. In this medium, it is known that water influences the course of the reaction; often its role is found to be disadvantageous. Even in those instances where water may be considered helpful, its role is not well understood or defined.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide reaction mixtures, and processes using such mixtures, for carrying out phase transfer catalyzed chemical reactions at a substantially enhanced rate.
Another object of the invention is to provide such reaction mixtures in which an .omega.-phase catalyst enables displacement and addition reactions to proceed at a substantially enhanced rate.
A further object herein is to provide a process in which the reaction product can be easily recovered.
A feature of the present invention is the formation of an .omega.-phase catalyst in undiluted form by retention of substantially all of a phase transfer catalyst material present in the system in a polar liquid which itself is adsorbed on an inorganic salt.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be made apparent from the following more particular description of the invention.