phosphonium ylid
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The Wittig reaction or Wittig olefination is a
chemical reaction A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the IUPAC nomenclature for organic transformations, chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the pos ...
of an aldehyde or
ketone In organic chemistry, a ketone is a functional group with the structure R–C(=O)–R', where R and R' can be a variety of carbon-containing substituents. Ketones contain a carbonyl group –C(=O)– (which contains a carbon-oxygen double bo ...
with a triphenyl phosphonium
ylide An ylide or ylid () is a neutral dipolar molecule containing a formally negatively charged atom (usually a carbanion) directly attached to a heteroatom with a formal positive charge (usually nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur), and in which both atoms h ...
called a
Wittig reagent In organic chemistry, Wittig reagents are organophosphorus compounds of the formula R3P=CHR', where R is usually phenyl. They are used to convert ketones and aldehydes to alkenes: : Preparation Because they typically hydrolyze and oxidize readily ...
. Wittig reactions are most commonly used to convert aldehydes and ketones to alkenes. Most often, the Wittig reaction is used to introduce a
methylene group In organic chemistry, a methylene group is any part of a molecule that consists of two hydrogen atoms bound to a carbon atom, which is connected to the remainder of the molecule by two single bonds. The group may be represented as , where the '< ...
using methylenetriphenylphosphorane (Ph3P=CH2). Using this reagent, even a sterically hindered ketone such as
camphor Camphor () is a waxy, colorless solid with a strong aroma. It is classified as a terpenoid and a cyclic ketone. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel ('' Cinnamomum camphora''), a large evergreen tree found in East Asia; and in the k ...
can be converted to its methylene derivative.


Stereochemistry

For the reaction with aldehydes, the double bond geometry is readily predicted based on the nature of the ylide. With unstabilised ylides (R3 = alkyl) this results in (''Z'')-alkene product with moderate to high selectivity. With stabilized ylides (R3 = ester or ketone), the (''E'')-alkene is formed with high selectivity. The (''E'')/(''Z'') selectivity is often poor with semistabilized ylides (R3 = aryl). To obtain the (''E'')-alkene for unstabilized ylides, the Schlosser modification of the Wittig reaction can be used. Alternatively, the
Julia olefination The Julia olefination (also known as the Julia–Lythgoe olefination) is the chemical reaction used in organic chemistry of phenyl sulfones (1) with aldehydes (or ketones) to give alkenes (olefins)(3) after alcohol functionalization and reductive ...
and its variants also provide the (''E'')-alkene selectively. Ordinarily, the
Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction The Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction is a chemical reaction used in organic chemistry of stabilized phosphonate carbanions with aldehydes (or ketones) to produce predominantly E-alkenes. In 1958, Leopold Horner published a modifi ...
provides the (''E'')-enoate (α,β-unsaturated ester), just as the Wittig reaction does. To obtain the (''Z'')-enolate, the Still-Gennari modification of the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction can be used.


Reaction mechanism

Mechanistic studies have focused on unstabilized ylides, because the intermediates can be followed by
NMR spectroscopy Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, most commonly known as NMR spectroscopy or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), is a spectroscopic technique to observe local magnetic fields around atomic nuclei. The sample is placed in a magnetic fiel ...
. The existence and interconversion of the betaine (3a and 3b) is subject of ongoing research. For lithium-free Wittig reactions, studies support a concerted formation of the
oxaphosphetane An oxaphosphetane is a molecule containing a four-membered ring with one phosphorus, one oxygen and two carbon atoms. In a 1,2-oxaphosphetane phosphorus is bonded directly to oxygen, whereas a 1,3-oxaphosphetane has the phosphorus and oxygen atom ...
without intervention of a betaine. In particular, phosphonium ylides 1 react with carbonyl compounds 2 via a +2
cycloaddition In organic chemistry, a cycloaddition is a chemical reaction in which "two or more Unsaturated hydrocarbon, unsaturated molecules (or parts of the same molecule) combine with the formation of a cyclic adduct in which there is a net reduction of th ...
that is sometimes described as having sub>π2s+π2atopology to directly form the oxaphosphetanes 4a and 4b. Under lithium-free conditions, the
stereochemistry Stereochemistry, a subdiscipline of chemistry, involves the study of the relative spatial arrangement of atoms that form the structure of molecules and their manipulation. The study of stereochemistry focuses on the relationships between stereois ...
of the product 5 is due to the kinetically controlled addition of the ylide 1 to the carbonyl 2. When lithium is present, there may be equilibration of the intermediates, possibly via betaine species 3a and 3b.
Bruce E. Maryanoff Bruce Eliot Maryanoff FRSC (born February 26, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American medicinal and organic chemist. Background and contributions Maryanoff received a B.S. degree in chemistry in 1969, and a PhD degree in organic che ...
and A. B. Reitz identified the issue about equilibration of Wittig intermediates and termed the process "stereochemical drift". For many years, the stereochemistry of the Wittig reaction, in terms of carbon-carbon bond formation, had been assumed to correspond directly with the Z/E stereochemistry of the alkene products. However, certain reactants do not follow this simple pattern.
Lithium Lithium (from el, λίθος, lithos, lit=stone) is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid el ...
salts can also exert a profound effect on the stereochemical outcome. Mechanisms differ for aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and for aromatic and aliphatic phosphonium ylides. Evidence suggests that the Wittig reaction of unbranched aldehydes under lithium-salt-free conditions do not equilibrate and are therefore under kinetic reaction control.
E. Vedejs Edwin Vedejs () ( lv, Edvīns Vedējs; January 31, 1941 – December 2, 2017) was a Latvian-American professor of chemistry. In 1967, he joined the organic chemistry faculty at University of Wisconsin. He rose through the ranks during his 32 years ...
has put forth a theory to explain the stereoselectivity of stabilized and unstabilized Wittig reactions. Strong evidence indicated that under Li-free conditions, Wittig reactions involving unstabilized (R1= alkyl, H), semistabilized (R1 = aryl), and stabilized (R1 = EWG) Wittig reagents all proceed via a +2retro- +2mechanism under kinetic control, with oxaphosphetane as the one and only intermediate.


Scope and limitations


Functional group tolerance

The Wittig reagents generally tolerate carbonyl compounds containing several kinds of functional groups such as OH, OR, aromatic
nitro Nitro may refer to: Chemistry *Nitrogen, a chemical element and a gas except at very low temperatures, with which many compounds are formed: **Nitro compound, an organic compound containing one or more nitro functional groups, -NO2 **Nitroalkene, ...
, epoxide, and
ester group In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides ar ...
s. Even C=O and
nitrile In organic chemistry, a nitrile is any organic compound that has a functional group. The prefix ''cyano-'' is used interchangeably with the term ''nitrile'' in industrial literature. Nitriles are found in many useful compounds, including met ...
groups can be present if conjugated with the ylide- these are the stabilised ylides mentioned above. Bis-ylides (containing two P=C bonds) have also been made and used successfully. There can be a problem with
sterically hindered Steric effects arise from the spatial arrangement of atoms. When atoms come close together there is a rise in the energy of the molecule. Steric effects are nonbonding interactions that influence the shape ( conformation) and reactivity of ions ...
ketones, where the reaction may be slow and give poor yields, particularly with stabilized ylides, and in such cases the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction (using phosphonate esters) is preferred. Another reported limitation is the often labile nature of aldehydes, which can oxidize, polymerize or decompose. In a so-called tandem oxidation-Wittig process the aldehyde is formed in situ by oxidation of the corresponding alcohol.


Stereochemistry

One limitation relates to the
stereochemistry Stereochemistry, a subdiscipline of chemistry, involves the study of the relative spatial arrangement of atoms that form the structure of molecules and their manipulation. The study of stereochemistry focuses on the relationships between stereois ...
of the product. With simple ylides, the product is usually mainly the Z-isomer, although a lesser amount of the E-isomer is often formed also – this is particularly true when ketones are used. If the reaction is performed in
dimethylformamide Dimethylformamide is an organic compound with the formula ( CH3)2NC(O)H. Commonly abbreviated as DMF (although this initialism is sometimes used for dimethylfuran, or dimethyl fumarate), this colourless liquid is miscible with water and the majo ...
in the presence of lithium iodide or
sodium iodide Sodium iodide (chemical formula NaI) is an ionic compound formed from the chemical reaction of sodium metal and iodine. Under standard conditions, it is a white, water-soluble solid comprising a 1:1 mix of sodium cations (Na+) and iodide anions (I ...
, the product is almost exclusively the Z-isomer. If the E-isomer is the desired product, the Schlosser modification may be used. With stabilised ylides the product is mainly the E-isomer, and this same isomer is also usual with the HWE reaction.


Schlosser modification

The main limitation of the traditional Wittig reaction is that the reaction proceeds mainly via the erythro betaine intermediate, which leads to the Z-alkene. The erythro betaine can be converted to the threo betaine using phenyllithium at low temperature. This modification affords the E-alkene. Allylic alcohols can be prepared by reaction of the betaine ylide with a second aldehyde. For example:


Example

An example of its use is in the synthesis of
leukotriene A Leukotrienes are a family of eicosanoid inflammatory mediators produced in leukocytes by the oxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) and the essential fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by the enzyme arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase. Leukot ...
methyl ester. The first step uses a stabilised ylide, where the carbonyl group is conjugated with the ylide preventing self condensation, although unexpectedly this gives mainly the ''cis'' product. The second Wittig reaction uses a non-stabilised Wittig reagent, and as expected this gives mainly the ''cis'' product.


History

The Wittig reaction was reported in 1954 by Georg Wittig and his coworker
Ulrich Schöllkopf Ulrich Schöllkopf (11 October 1927 – 6 November 1998) was a German chemist and together with Georg Wittig discovered the Wittig reaction in 1956. Later in 1981 he published the synthesis method for amino acids known as the Bislactimether method ...
. In part for this contribution, Wittig was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1979.


See also

* Corey–Chaykovsky reagent *
Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction The Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction is a chemical reaction used in organic chemistry of stabilized phosphonate carbanions with aldehydes (or ketones) to produce predominantly E-alkenes. In 1958, Leopold Horner published a modifi ...
*
Julia olefination The Julia olefination (also known as the Julia–Lythgoe olefination) is the chemical reaction used in organic chemistry of phenyl sulfones (1) with aldehydes (or ketones) to give alkenes (olefins)(3) after alcohol functionalization and reductive ...
*
Peterson olefination The Peterson olefination (also called the Peterson reaction) is the chemical reaction of α-silyl carbanions (1 in diagram below) with ketones (or aldehydes) to form a β-hydroxysilane (2) which eliminates to form alkenes (3). Several reviews h ...
* Tebbe's reagent * Organophosphorus chemistry * Homologation reaction *
Kauffmann olefination The Kauffmann olefination is a chemical reaction to convert aldehydes and ketones to olefins with a terminal methylene group. This reaction was discovered by the German chemist Thomas Kauffmann and is related to the better known Tebbe olefination or ...
* Titanium–zinc methylenation


References


External links

*Wittig reaction in Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 10, p. 703 (2004); Vol. 75, p. 153 (1998).
Article
*Wittig reaction in Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p. 361 (1973); Vol. 45, p. 33 (1965).
Article
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wittig Reaction Olefination reactions Carbon-carbon bond forming reactions Name reactions German inventions Homologation reactions 1954 in science 1954 in Germany