Extraction of highly hydrophilic anions in low polarity media under phase-transfer catalysis conditions: dramatic enhancement of the OH? reactivity by reduction of its specific hydration

In the chlorobenzene–aqueous NaOH two-phase system, an increase in NaOH concentration from 5 to 20 M reduces the OH– hydration sphere of the tetrahexylammonium hydroxid (1a) dissovled in chlorobenzene form 11 to 3.5 molecules of water, thus producing a dramatic incras (up to 104 times) in OH– reactivity.