Most chemical reactions take place in liquid form since compounds in solution are more likely to interact with each other, especially when heated. Reaction solvent choice varies based on reagent solubility and reaction temperature requirements. Because many reactions today require high temperatures, solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) are frequently used. However, just because a reaction solvent has the proper reagent solubility and/ or a high boiling point does not mean it should be used. Why? Well, as we will show in this post, the solvent itself can alter synthetic efficiency by changing reaction kinetics as well as the number and type of by-products.