In chemistry a phase transfer catalyst or PTC is a catalyst that facilitates the migration of a reactant from one phase into another phase where reaction occurs. PTC is a special form of heterogeneous catalysis. Ionic reactants are often soluble in an aqueous phase but insoluble in an organic phase in the absence of the phase transfer catalyst. Phase transfer catalysis refers to the acceleration of the reaction upon the addition the phase transfer catalyst.
By using a PTC process, one can achieve faster reactions, obtain higher conversions or yields, make fewer byproducts, eliminate the need for expensive or dangerous solvents that will dissolve all the reactants in one phase, eliminate the need for expensive raw materials and/or minimize waste problems. Phase transfer catalysts are especially useful in green chemistry — by allowing the use of water, the need for organic solvents is reduced.[1][2]
Contrary to common perception, PTC is not limited to systems with hydrophilic and hydrophobic reactants. PTC is sometimes employed in liquid/solid and liquid/gas reactions. As the name implies, one or more of the reactants are transported into a second phase, which contains the both reactants.
Phase transfer catalysts for anionic reactants are often quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts. Typical catalysts include benzyltrimethylammonium chloride and hexadecyltributylphosphonium bromide.[3]
For example, the nucleophilic aliphatic substitution reaction of an aqueous sodium cyanide solution with an etherial solution of 1-bromooctane does not readily occur. The 1-bromooctane is poorly soluble in the aqueous cyanide solution, and the sodium cyanide does not dissolve well in the ether. Upon the addition of small amounts of hexadecyltributylphosphonium bromide, a rapid reaction ensues to give nonyl nitrile:
Via the quat cation, cyanide ions are "ferried" from the aqueous phase into the organic phase.[4]
Subsequent work demonstrated that many such reactions can be performed rapidly at around room temperature using catalysts such as tetra-n-butylammonium bromide or methyltrioctylammonium chloride in benzene/water systems.[5]
An alternative to the use of "quat salts" is to convert alkali metal cations into hydrophobic cations. In the research lab, crown ethers are used for this purpose. More commonly in practical applications are polyethylene glycols. These ligands encapsulate alkali metal cations (typically Na+ and K+), affording large lipophilic cations. These polyethers have a hydrophilic "interiors" containing the ion and a hydrophobic exterior.
PTC is widely exploited industrially.[6] Polycarbonate polymers for example are prepared from acid chlorides and bisphenol-A. Phosphothioate-based pesticides are generated by PTC-catalyzed alkylation of phosphothioates. One of the more complex applications of PTC involves asymmetric alkylations, which are catalyzed by chiral quaternary ammonium salts derived from cinchona alkaloids.[7]
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