See Also: Wittig(dictionary)

Wittig (iou)



Wittig noun. M20.
[Georg Friedrich Karl Wittig (1897-1987), German chemist.]
Chemistry. Used attrib. to designate synthetic techniques introduced by Wittig.
Wittig reaction a method for the preparation of substituted alkenes utilizing the action of an alkyl phosphorus ylid on a carbonyl compound (aldehyde or ketone). Wittig rearrangement the conversion of benzyl or allyl ethers in the presence of a strong base to the corresponding secondary or tertiary alcohol.