Aqueous Wittig Reactions of Aldehydes with In Situ Formed Semistabilized Phosphorus Ylides

Abstract

Abstract The Wittig reactions of three semistabilized phosphorus ylides generated in situ from the corresponding phosphonium salts with aldehydes in water without any organic cosolvent were investigated. Most of the olefination reactions completed within between 5 min and 4.5 h in refluxing water containing 1.5 equiv of LiOH and 1.4 M LiCl to afford the products in 65–100% yields. The E∶Z selectivity depended not only on the substituent attached to the benzene ring of the ylides but also on the substituent bound to the aromatic aldehydes. LiCl promotes the aqueous Wittig reactions and suppresses decomposition of the ylide or the corresponding phosphonium salt.