Electrostatic immobilization of substrate and polyoxotungstate catalyst at the surface of micelles for enhanced reaction efficiency in water

Polyoxometalate (POM)-basedmicellar catalysts were prepared by assembling the Keggin tri-anion [PW₁₂O₄₀]^3? and (L)-N-acetylmethioninate salts of Gemini surfactants inwater. Contrary to conventional catalytic systems, we propose a new approach in which the POM catalyst and the substrate to be oxidized ((L)-N-acetylmethioninate) are both localized at the surface of micelles by electrostatic interaction before the reaction. The high local concentration of reactants due to their confinement at the surface of micelles enhances the reaction kinetics. Catalyst recovery experiments showed that, after two cycles of reactions, the activity of the catalysts was not changed.