Solvents affect catalysis through various mechanisms: - Solubility: Solvents can dissolve reactants and catalysts, thus facilitating their interaction. - Polarity: The polarity of a solvent can stabilize charged intermediates and transition states, thus influencing the reaction pathway. - Dielectric Constant: A higher dielectric constant can increase the ionic character of intermediates, affecting the reaction kinetics. - Viscosity: Viscous solvents can slow down the diffusion of reactants and products, potentially affecting the reaction rate.
