Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution Reactions in Water Enabled by Micellar Catalysis

Abstract

Given the huge dependence on dipolar, aprotic solvents such as DMF, DMSO, DMAc, and NMP in nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions (SNAr), a simple and environmentally friendly alternative is reported. Use of a "benign-by-design" nonionic surfactant, TPGS-750-M, in water enables nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur nucleophiles to participate in SNAr reactions. Aromatic and heteroaromatic substrates readily participate in this micellar catalysis, which takes place at or near ambient temperatures.