FINKELSTEIN REACTION WITH AQUEOUS HYDROGEN HALIDES EFFICIENTLY CATALYZED BY LIPOPHILIC QUARTERNARY ONIUM SALTS

The rate of halogen metathesis between halogenoalkanes RX 1-4 (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and aqueous concentrated hydrogen halides HY (Y = Cl, Br, I) is strongly accelerated under phase-transfer catalysis conditions, without solvent. The amount and nature of the nucleophilic species in the organic phase were determined.