Hot compressed water as reaction medium and reactant: Properties and synthesis reactions

Hot compressed water (HCW, here water above 200 °C) possesses very interesting properties. This series of articles gives an overview of the state of the art as regards the understanding of reactions in HCW. In the first part the macroscopic and microscopic properties of HCW will be described, followed by a summary of synthesis reactions published. The impact of the unique properties shall be discussed in part II, with the thermal degradation of tert-butylbenzene and the oxidation of methanol being used as examples. The studies reported will show that the microscopic properties are of more importance to understanding reactions in HCW than assumed in the past.