Two-Phase Systems with Solidified Water Phases - Tools for Technical Use of Sensitive Catalysts

Aqueous-organic two-phase systems are important tools in organic synthesis to enable reactions that employ compounds with incompatible solubilities. For technical application, different strategies have been developed to prevent coalescence without vast energy input and deactivation of sensitive compounds. A particularly promising one is the solidification of the aqueous phase by forming small distinguished compartments with polymers. The respective systems are assessed with special emphasis on the utility for enzyme catalysed synthesis in organic solvents.