Design and Applications of Phase Transfer Catalysis

Dear Colleagues,

Since its first introduction, in the late 1960s, phase transfer catalysis (PTC) has continued to expand its applications in laboratory and industrial processes over the decades. The reasons for this great popularity can be traced back to the operational simplicity and environmental sustainability of this methodology. In fact, PTC combines increased reaction rates in heterogeneous systems, high selectivity, and mild reaction conditions with the employment of non-toxic and recyclable solvents and catalysts. Moreover, phase transfer base-mediated processes are typically conducted with aqueous or solid alkali metal salts such as hydroxides, carbonates or phosphates (PTC/OH conditions), avoiding moisture-sensitive reagents and strictly anhydrous conditions. Today, a considerable number of organic reactions have been developed under phase transfer conditions, typically promoted by quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts, crown ethers, cryptands, and polyethers. The use of properly designed chiral onium salts and crown ethers is a well-established strategy to perform a wide range of enantioselective processes. However, the continuous effort in this field is leading to the development of newly designed catalysts, including triazolium, pentanidinium and 2-oxopyrimidinium salts, while other studies are focused on increasing the synthetic applications of this methodology.

This Special Issue aims to give space to all the recent advances and innovative applications of phase transfer catalysis both in academic and industrial areas. Research articles, short communications, brief reports, and review papers on this topic are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Giorgio Della Sala
Dr. Assunta D'Amato
Guest Editors

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• Phase-transfer catalysis
• Ion pair catalysis
• Heterogeneous catalysis
• Organocatalysis
• Quaternary ammonium salts
• Quaternary phosphonium salts
• Crown ethers
• Industrial processes
• Continuous flow processes
• Supported catalysts
• Green chemistry