Miscibility not required: chemical reactions "on water" faster than in organic solvents
We all know what it means to put something "on ice", but what is a chemical reaction "on water"? This new expression has been coined by a team headed by K. Barry Sharpless, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize for chemistry, to describe reactions of organic substances that are not water-soluble, yet react well or even considerably faster in the presence of water than in organic solvents.
If water could also replace organic solvents more often on the industrial scale, it would save money, increase the safety of chemical facilities, and reduce stress on the environment. Another advantage is that after the reaction, the organic and aqueous phases separate, eliminating the need for complex isolation steps to obtain the product.John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
