THE WITTIG REACTION

Abstract

CONTENTS I. Introduction 347 II. Alkylidenephosphoranes 347 III. Mechanism and stereochemistry of the Wittig reaction 351 IV. Synthesis of natural polyacetylenic compounds 352 V. Synthesis of terpenes, carotenoids, and vitamin A 353 VI. Synthesis of steroids and vitamin D2 357 VII. Prospects for future uses of the Wittig reaction in the synthetic field 358