Lewis acid catalysis in a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)-poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives (PEGs) system: remarkable effect of PEGS as additives on reactivity of Ln(OTf)3-catalyzed Mannich and aldol reactions in scCO2.

Use of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives (PEGs) as additives in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) was found to be effective for Mannich and aldol reactions of silyl enolates with aldehydes and imines, and formation of emulsions was observed in these systems.