Triphasic catalyst systems based on surfactant/clay composites

Abstract

Benzyl halides undergo cyanation, thiocyanation and hydroxylation reactions under the influence of triphasic catalysts. The utility of a variety of surfactants, namely cetyltrimethyl-, tetrabutyl-, tetraethyl- and tetramethyl ammonium chlorides, pillared clays and 18-crown-6 intercalated clay has been demonstrated in these nucleophilic substitution reactions. Furthermore, we noticed that these clay-catalysed reactions are insensitive towards the size of the surfactants used.