Organocatalytic reactions in water.
Organocatalysts have emerged as a third major way of catalyzing a wide variety of reactions, besides metal catalysts and biocatalysts. They have gained tremendous importance because of their green chemistry perspective. The criteria for green chemistry would be largely fulfilled if the major component of the reaction mixture, i.e. the solvent, is water which is a suitable solvent in various biosynthetic reactions. In this feature article we have described reactions promoted by organocatalysts in a large excess of water, without any organic solvent or excess of any reactant. We have also explained the structural features required for organocatalysts to work well in aqueous media.
Raj
Monika
M
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, India.
Singh
Vinod K
VK
D002384:Catalysis; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014867:Water