Investigation of the Wittig reaction with electrogenerated bases: Influence of experimental conditions on the yield and stereochemistry

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)00736-4

The influence of experimental parameters on the yields and stereochemistry of the Wittig reaction was studied using the synthesis of stilbene initiated by different electrogenerated bases as a model reaction. Electrolyses were carried out in batch cells under different conditions, including constant potential or constant current with different electrode materials and using solvents of different polarity. It is shown that proper selection of experimental conditions in Wittig reactions allows a choice of stereoselectivity in the reactions and the optimization of yields.