an effective green procedure for the synthesis of phenacyl derivatives catalyzed by silica-bound 3-{2-[poly(ethylene glycol)]ethyl}-substituted 1-methyl-1h-imidazol-3-ium bromide as a recyclable phase transfer catalyst under aqueous media

the use of a recyclable phase transfer catalyst, sio2-peg-imbr, is demonstrated in a simple and highly efficient synthesis of phenacyl derivatives by nucleophilic substitution reaction of phenacyl halides with different anions in water. advantages of this system are easy work-up, moderate to good yields, and recyclable catalyst. the catalyst can be recycled and reused several times with no loss of its efficiency.