The kinetic effect of various Diels–Alder and Michael reactions is studied in water and ethylene glycol vs. organic solvents. The rate enhancement is considerable in water, much less in ethylene glycol. It is proposed that strong solvophobic interactions operate in water whereas the kinetic results in glycol are best explained by hydrogen bonding and polarity effects. From a synthetic point of view, use of the properties of water (hydrophobic ...
