Microemulsions as reaction medium for a substitution reaction

• Synthesis of sodium decyl sulfonate from 1-bromodecane and sodium sulfite was performed in microemulsions based on nonionic surfactant, in liquid crystals and in 2-phase systems with or without a phase transfer agent added. The reactions were fast in both bicontinuous and W/O microemulsion, slower in liquid crystal and very sluggish in 2-phase systems also in the presence of a Q salt or a crown ether. Addition of a small amount of anionic surfactant to the microemulsion systems decreased reaction rate. Addition of cationic surfactant either increased or decreased the reaction rate depending on the choice of counterion.

Keyword

Microemulsion

surfactant

phase transfer agent

Q salt

crown ether

liquid crystal

organic synthesis

substitution reaction

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)