Switchable solvents

Chemical Science Pub Date: 2011-02-15 DOI: 10.1039/C0SC00568A

Abstract

Switchable solvents are a unique class of solvents that were developed to facilitate both reaction and subsequent product separation. Their “built-in” separation ability for facile product recovery is paramount to achieving chemical processes that are both economically competitive and environmentally conscious. Two classes of switchable solvents are discussed: 1) piperylene sulfone—a volatile and recycle DMSO substitute and 2) one and two-component reversible ionic liquids—solvent systems that can be switched back and forth between molecular liquids and ionic liquids.

Graphical abstract: Switchable solvents
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