Triphasic catalyst systems based on surfactant/clay composites - Facile synthesis of cyano, thiocyano and hydroxy compounds using a triphasic catalyst

Benzyl halides undergo cyanation, thiocyanation and hydroxylation reactions under the influence of triphasic catalysts. The utility of a variety of su rfactants, namely cetyltrimethyl-, tetrabutyl-, tetraethyl- and tetramethyl ammonium chlorides, pillared clays and 18-crown-6 intercalated clay has be en demonstrated in these nucleophilic substitution reactions. Furthermore, we noticed that these clay-catalysed reactions are insensitive towards the size of the surfactants used.