Organic Synthesis In Water

The use of water as a medium for promoting organic reactions has been rather neglected in the development of organic synthesis, despite the fact that it is the solvent in which almost all biochemical processes take place. Chemists have only recently started to appreciate the enormous potential water has to offer in the development of new synthetic reactions and strategies, where it can offer benefits in both unique chemistry and reduced environmental impact. In this new book, the editor, well known for his contribution to the development of water as a useful medium in synthetic organic chemistry, has assembled an international team of authors, themselves at the forefront of research into the use of the unique properties of water carrying out organic transformations, to provide a timely and concise overview of current research. By focusing on the practical use of water in synthetic organic chemistry, and with the concern for the use of solvents in organic chemistry, professional chemists, particularly those involved in industrial research and development, will find this book an essential guide to the current state of the art, and a useful starting point in their own research. Academic chemists, including postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students, will find this book an invaluable guide to this exciting and important area of chemistry.

Volatile organic solvents are the normal media used in both research scale and industrial scale synthesis of organic chemicals. Their environmental impact is significant, however, and so the development of alternative reaction media has become of great interest. Developments in the use of water as a solvent for organic synthesis have reached the point where it could now be considered a viable solvent for many organic reactions. Organic Reactions in Water demonstrates the underlying principles of using water as a reaction solvent and, by reference to a range of reaction types and systems, it’s effective use in synthetic organic chemistry. Written by an internationally respected team of contributors, and with a strong focus on the practical use of water as a reaction medium, this book illustrates the enormous potential of water for the development of new and unique chemistries and synthetic strategies, while at the same time offering a much reduced environmental impact.

Written by highly renowned and experienced authors, this is the only reference on the application of solvents as reagents. Clearly structured, the text describes various methods for the activation and reaction of these small molecules, highlighting the synthetic opportunities as well as process-oriented advantages. To this end, all relevant types of solvents are covered separately and emphasized with numerous synthetic examples, while taking care to explain applications so as to avoid undesired side reactions. The result is a unique resource for every synthetic chemist and reaction engineer in industry and academia working on the methodical optimization of synthetic transformations.

In recent years the choice of a given solvent for performing a reaction has become increasingly important. More and more, selective reagents are used for chemical transformations and the choice of the solvent may be determining for reaching high reaction rates and high selectivities. The toxicity and recycling considerations have also greatly influenced the nature of the solvents used for industrial reactions. Thus, the development of reactions in water is not only important on the laboratory scale but also for industrial applications. The p- formance of metal-catalyzed reactions in water for example has led to several new hydrogenation or hydroformylation procedures with important industrial applications. The various aspects of organic chemistry in water will be prese- ed in this book. Recently, novel reaction media such as perfluorinated solvents or supercritical carbon dioxide has proven to have unique advantages leading to more practical and more efficient reactions. Especially with perfluorinated solvents, new biphasic catalyses and novel approaches to perform organic reactions have been developed. These aspects will be examined in detail in this volume. Finally, the performance of reactions in the absence of solvents will show practical alternatives for many reactions. More than ever before, the choice of the solvent or the solvent system is ess- tial for realizing many chemical transformations with the highest efficiency. This book tries to cover the more recent and important new solvents or solvent systems for both academic and industrial applications.

Water in Organic Synthesis is essential for the organic chemist in helping gain a thorough appreciation of the latest and most reliable available methods for using water in organic synthesis. It illustrates how water can often be a viable and green solvent in the laboratory and provides a detailed introduction to the subject: background information, evaluated methods, practical applications, industrial applications, special techniques, and an overview of the latest trends. The reference work also helps in inspiring chemists worldwide to find new approaches and techniques for the application of water in organic synthesis. Comprehensive overview of a rapidly progressing field Critical review of aqueous reactions by 47 experts Covering almost all types of organic reactions Including special techniques with water and industrial applications Emphasis on environmental aspects