The process involves accelerating reactions between reactants present in immiscible phases by the use of a substance that facilitates the transport of one reactant into the other phase. This substance, often a salt or a complex, carries a reactant, typically an anion, across the interface between the two phases, allowing the reaction to occur. A common example involves reactions between aqueous and organic phases, where an ion-pairing agent enables water-soluble ions to react with organic-soluble compounds.
This technique offers significant advantages in chemical synthesis, including increased reaction rates, higher yields, the ability to use milder reaction conditions, and the potential to avoid the use of hazardous solvents. Its development represents a pivotal advancement in chemistry, facilitating numerous industrial processes and enabling the synthesis of complex molecules more efficiently and sustainably. Historically, it has expanded the scope of organic transformations, making reactions that were once difficult or impossible now readily achievable.
