A substitution reaction in an oil-in-water microemulsion catalyzed by a phase transfer catalyst

A lipophilic epoxide was reacted with sodium sulfite in a microemulsion using a phase transfer agent as reaction promoter. The microemulsion was based on an aqueous buffer, a chlorinated hydrocarbon and alkyl glycoside surfactants. The reaction was fast compared to the same reaction performed in a two-phase system with the same phase transfer agent.