Solvent purity is equally important as reagent purity in catalysis. Impurities in solvents can lead to changes in reaction kinetics and mechanism. For example, trace amounts of water in an organic solvent can significantly affect reactions involving organometallic catalysts. Therefore, solvents often undergo rigorous purification processes, such as distillation over drying agents like sodium or molecular sieves, to ensure their suitability for catalytic reactions.
