Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Wittig Reaction
The Wittig reaction is a chemical reaction that allows for the formation of alkenes through the reaction of an aldehyde or ketone with a phosphonium ylide. This reaction is significant in organic synthesis as it provides a method to create double bonds with high stereoselectivity, enabling the construction of complex molecules from simpler precursors.
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Phosphonium Ylide
A phosphonium ylide is a compound containing a positively charged phosphorus atom bonded to a negatively charged carbon atom. This species is crucial in the Wittig reaction, as it acts as a nucleophile that attacks the carbonyl carbon of the aldehyde or ketone, leading to the formation of the alkene product after elimination of the phosphine oxide.
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Alkyl Halides
Alkyl halides are organic compounds containing a carbon atom bonded to a halogen atom (such as chlorine, bromine, or iodine). In the context of the Wittig reaction, alkyl halides serve as starting materials that can be converted into phosphonium ylides, which are then used to react with carbonyl compounds to synthesize alkenes.
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