Organic reactions carried out in aqueous solution in the presence of a hydroxyalkyl(alkyl)cellulose or an alkylcellulose

A method of carrying out an organic reaction in a solvent containing at least 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the solvent, of water, which method comprises reacting the reagents in said solvent in the presence of a cellulose derivative as a surfactant which is selected from the group consisting of cellulose modified with one or more alkylene oxides or other hydroxyalkyl precursors, and alkylcellulose;

• where the organic reaction is not a polymerization or oligomerization reaction of olefinically unsaturated compounds;
• and
• where the organic reaction is
• a transition metal catalyzed reaction in which a transition metal catalyst is used;
• where the transition metal catalyzed reaction is
• a transition metal catalyzed C—C coupling reaction;
• a transition metal catalyzed reaction involving C—N bond formation which is an Au-catalyzed cyclodehydratization of α,β-amino alcohols containing a C—C triple bond;
• a transition metal catalyzed reaction involving C—O bond formation;
• a transition metal catalyzed reaction involving C—S bond formation;
• a transition metal catalyzed reaction involving C—B bond formation;
• or
• a transition metal catalyzed reaction involving C-halogen bond formation;
• or
• a C—C coupling reaction not requiring transition metal catalysis which is selected from the group consisting of reactions of carbonyl or nitrile compounds and pericyclic reactions;
• a nucleophilic substitution reaction;
• a reduction or an oxidation reaction;
• or
• an ester formation reaction or an ester hydrolysis reaction.