Thermoregulated microemulsions by cyclodextrin sequestration: a new approach to efficient catalyst recovery.

The combination of imidazolium surfactants with alpha-cyclodextrins (CDs, in green) was used as a control element in the thermoregulated aqueous olefin hydroformylation. The self-assembly of the imidazolium surfactants (red) favors the micellization process at high temperatures, whereas at lower temperatures the complexation of the surfactant monomers into the alpha-CDs is favored.