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Chemistry

Stereoselective Synthesis of Alkenes via the Wittig Reaction

Quick fact

The Wittig reaction was discovered by Georg Wittig in 1954, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1979. It is one of the most reliable ways to make alkenes with control over whether the larger groups are on the same side (Z) or opposite sides (E) of the double bond.

Why this is interesting

You know that carbon-carbon double bonds are everywhere in chemistry, but did you know that the Wittig reaction lets you choose which side of the double bond gets which group—almost like flipping a switch? How does a simple phosphorus compound give you that control?