The article "Aqueous Micelles as Solvent, Ligand, and Reaction Promoter in Catalysis" by Jagdeep K. Virdi, Ashish Dusunge, and Sachin Handa discusses the potential of micellar catalysis in organic chemistry. Micellar catalysis, which involves the use of micelles to solubilize water-insoluble substrates and promote reactions, is highlighted as a sustainable and efficient method. The authors review the historical development of micellar catalysis, from early industrial processes like the Twitchell process to modern advancements using designer surfactants. Key aspects of micellar catalysis include: 1. **Solvent Role**: Micelles act as solvents, providing a suitable environment for water-insoluble or nonpolar substances. 2. **Ligand Role**: Micelles can serve as ligands, enhancing the stability and reactivity of metal catalysts. 3. **Reaction Promoter**: Micelles facilitate reactions by stabilizing intermediates and promoting the formation of desired products. The article also discusses the design and application of specific surfactants, such as PS-750-M, which mimics the properties of common organic solvents like DMF and DMAc. These surfactants enable various organic transformations, including cross-couplings, amide couplings, and carboxylation reactions, in aqueous media. Additionally, the authors explore the use of micelles in chemo- and biocatalysis, highlighting their role in one-pot processes and multi-component tandem transformations. They provide practical guidelines for achieving efficient micellar catalysis, including optimal surfactant solutions, reaction conditions, and product isolation techniques. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of micellar catalysis in sustainable organic chemistry, offering insights into its mechanisms and applications.The article "Aqueous Micelles as Solvent, Ligand, and Reaction Promoter in Catalysis" by Jagdeep K. Virdi, Ashish Dusunge, and Sachin Handa discusses the potential of micellar catalysis in organic chemistry. Micellar catalysis, which involves the use of micelles to solubilize water-insoluble substrates and promote reactions, is highlighted as a sustainable and efficient method. The authors review the historical development of micellar catalysis, from early industrial processes like the Twitchell process to modern advancements using designer surfactants. Key aspects of micellar catalysis include: 1. **Solvent Role**: Micelles act as solvents, providing a suitable environment for water-insoluble or nonpolar substances. 2. **Ligand Role**: Micelles can serve as ligands, enhancing the stability and reactivity of metal catalysts. 3. **Reaction Promoter**: Micelles facilitate reactions by stabilizing intermediates and promoting the formation of desired products. The article also discusses the design and application of specific surfactants, such as PS-750-M, which mimics the properties of common organic solvents like DMF and DMAc. These surfactants enable various organic transformations, including cross-couplings, amide couplings, and carboxylation reactions, in aqueous media. Additionally, the authors explore the use of micelles in chemo- and biocatalysis, highlighting their role in one-pot processes and multi-component tandem transformations. They provide practical guidelines for achieving efficient micellar catalysis, including optimal surfactant solutions, reaction conditions, and product isolation techniques. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of micellar catalysis in sustainable organic chemistry, offering insights into its mechanisms and applications.