The Wittig reaction and related methods

Abstract The Wittig reaction, the reaction of an a-phosphorus estabilized anion with a carbonyl derivative, is undoubtedly one of the most useful methods for selectively constructing carbon-carbon double bonds. This is for many reasons: the precursors are easily prepared and in many instances are available readily, the reaction is high yielding, the alkene is specifically positioned, and in many instances is stereoselective. Wittig developed the reaction of phosphoniumylides with aldehydes in the early 1950s.