Use of perfluorinated fluids
Catalysis at liquid-liquid interfaces

A new method using the original properties of liquid perfluorocarbons resembles, in certain respects, phase transfer catalysis or reactions in micellar media, since, starting from a liquid-liquid two-phase medium (e.g. perfluoroalkane and organic solvent) in which the reagents are shared between the two phases, a change in temperature makes the system homogeneous. After reaction, a return to ordinary temperature re-establishes the heterogeneous nature of the system, enabling products to be separated more easily.

Many reactions have been studied under these conditions, for example:

• hydroformylation...