Amine Salts as Phase-Transfer Catalysts

Use of a phase-transfer catalyst. This example shows the reaction of cyclohexene and chloroform, both insoluble in water, with a 50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. 

Other anions may be transferred into organic phases by tetra-alkylammonium phase-transfer catalysts. For example, sodium cyanide (NaCN) is not soluble in most organic solvents, but the cyanide ion ( CN) can be used as a nucleophile in organic solvents under phase-transfer conditions, as shown here. Like the hydroxide ion, cyanide is a stronger nucleophile in the organic phase because it is not solvated by water molecules. 

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The use of amine salts as phase-transfer catalysts has been deleted. 

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