Generation
processes of the third phase and the carbanion for Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons
(HWE) reaction of the “weakly acidic” substrate in the
third-liquid phase-transfer catalysis (TLPTC) system were investigated. The third
phase consisted of Et2PO4
– (diethyl phosphate anion), Br– and TBA+ (tetrabutylammonium), and molar content of Et2PO4
– was 6.65 times greater than that of TBA+. The true catalyst was the complex of TBA+Et2PO4
– and TBAB. Excess Et2PO4
– could be associated with
TBA+Et2PO4
–, resulting
in generation of the third phase. The “true” catalyst
showed a higher catalytic activity and the reaction equilibrium constant
for the third-phase cycle was 26 times greater than that for the organic-phase
cycle. Results from background reaction, interfacial tension, and
hydrogen–deuterium exchange reaction experiments suggested
that the phosphonate were deprotonated by “naked” OH–, without help of the catalyst. These novel generation
processes of the third phase and the carbanion were key factors for
this efficient TLPTC system.