Cationic latexes as catalytic media

Monodisperse cationic latexes containing 1–60 mol-% of quaternary ammonium ion repeat units increase the rates of decarboxylation of 6-nitro-benzisoxazole-3-carboxylate and of o-iodosobenzoate-catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate by factors of up to 10500 and 6300 compared with the rates in aqueous solutions. The catalytic effects are due more to high local concentrations of reactants in the particles than to increased rate constants of reaction in particles.