In this short paper the concept of co-catalysis in phase transfer catalyzed reactions is presented. It was shown that difficulties in the application of phase transfer catalysis for reactions of nonlipophilic inorganic anions such as hydroxide and fluoride anions can be efficiently eliminated when carried out in the presence of co-catalysts.On selected examples it was shown that numerous processes catalyzed by transition metals are substantially improved when carried out in the two-phase systems in the presence of phase transfer catalysts. Modus operandi of such co-catalytic systems varied depending on the kind of transition metal catalyzed process.Keywords: Phase-transfer catalysis, tetraalkyl ammonium salts, β-elimination, carbonylation, fluorination, Heck reaction, Suzuki reaction Phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) is presently a well established, general methodology widely used in laboratory synthesis and chemical industry. The main feature of this methodology is that reactions are carried out in two-phase systems containing organic and aqueous phases of negligible mutual solubility whereas the catalytic process consists in continuous introduction of reacting anionic species into nonpolar organic phase in form of ion pairs with lipophilic cations supplied by the catalyst. Typical PT catalysts are lipophilic tetraalkylammonium (TAA) salts. Further reactions of these species e.g. with appropriate electrophilic partners proceed in the organic phase. 1,2 There are two general systems in which PT catalyzed reactions are carried out: liquidliquid and liquid-solid, and two major cases: the reacting anionic species are available before the (1)The key factor deciding on feasibility of the catalytic process is the position of the ionexchange equilibrium 1a that governs the concentration of the reacting anions in the organic phase. This equilibrium is in turn governed by the energy of hydration of the anions X -and Y -.In the row OH -, SO 4 2-, F -, Cl -, CN -, Br -, I -, ClO 4 -, SCN -etc. always right partner will be preferentially located in the organic phase. Thus a substantial limitation of the PTC is that hydroxide and fluoride anions cannot be efficiently transferred into the organic phase when other, more lipophilic, anions are present in the system.
Co-catalysis.Many catalysts exhibit the desired action or act more efficiently only in the presence of an additional component. Such additional components that make the catalytic process possible, activate the catalyst or modify its action are known as co-catalysts. Co-catalytic processes are widely used in laboratory practice and industrial applications. This phenomenon is frequently observed in the nature, many natural catalysts -enzymes require cocatalystscoenzymes -for proper action. The phenomenon of cocatalysis in PT catalyzed reactions can be of various nature. The first category of PTC cocatalysis is applicable for reactions of hydrophilic anions, that due to unfavourable ion exchange equilibrium cannot operate efficiently in simple PT catalyzed syst...