Investigation of Reactions Involving Pentacoordinate Intermediates [recurso electrónico] The Mechanism of the Wittig Reaction

In this thesis, the author outlines the discovery of an effect common to representative examples of all Li salt-free Wittig Reactions. The implications of such a universally applicable effect are that all such Wittig reactions occur through the same mechanism. Although the Wittig reaction was first discovered in 1953, its reaction mechanism has never been definitively settled with many different variants proposed and disproved. The work in this thesis shows conclusively that for [2+2] cycloadditions all Wittig reactions occur by the same irreversible mechanism. In addition, the author also describes a new chromatography-free method for the removal of phosphine oxide from the alkene crude product of the Wittig reaction. The work in this thesis has led to several publications in high-profile journals. In this thesis, the author outlines the discovery of an effect common to representative examples of all Li salt-free Wittig Reactions. The implications of such a universally applicable effect are that all such Wittig reactions occur through the same mechanism. Although the Wittig reaction was first discovered in 1953, its reaction mechanism has never been definitively settled with many different variants proposed and disproved. The work in this thesis shows conclusively that for [2 2] cycloadditions all Wittig reactions occur by the same irreversible mechanism. In addition, the author also describes a new chromatography-free method for the removal of phosphine oxide from the alkene crude product of the Wittig reaction. The work in this thesis has led to several publications in high-profile journals. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Introduction to the Wittig Reaction and Discussion of the Mechanism....Pages 1-56 Wittig Reactions of Aldehydes Bearing a β-Heteroatom Substituent....Pages 57-103 A Convenient Chromatography-Free Method for the Purification of Alkenes Produced in the Wittig Reaction....Pages 105-112 Experimental....Pages 113-231