Wittig Reaction Lab Report

During this experiment, the reagent phosphonium chloride was reacted with a base to yield a Wittig reagent. The Wittig reagent was reacted with an aldehyde to synthesize an alkene. The Wittig method is an inexpensive reaction that involve transforming a carbonyl to the olefin compound. This reaction is the go-to method for synthesizing alkenes. The carbonyl serve as the electrophile that get attack by a phosphorous Wittig reagent, also known as an Ylide. The reaction progress with the deprotonation of the phosphonium molecule with the reaction base, to yield a carbanion/Ylide. Proceeding the synthesis of the Ylide, the molecule attacks a carbonyl in the same manner of a nucleophile. The attack form a betaine intermediate also known as an alkoxide.