Georg Wittig

Georg Wittig (June 16, 1897 in Berlin (Germany) - August 26, 1987) was a German chemist who reported a method for synthesis of alkenes from aldehydes and ketones using compounds called phosphonium ylides in the Wittig reaction. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1979.

Related Topics:
June 16 - 1897 - August 26 - 1987 - Chemist - Alkene - Aldehyde - Ketone - Phosphonium - Ylide - Wittig reaction - Nobel Prize in Chemistry - 1979

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Wittig's contributions also include the preparation of phenyllithium and the discovery of the 1,2-Wittig rearrangement and the 2,3-Wittig rearrangement.

Related Topics:
Phenyllithium - 1,2-Wittig rearrangement - 2,3-Wittig rearrangement

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Wittig was well known in the chemistry community for being a consummate experimenter and observer of chemical transformations, while caring very little for the theoretical and mechanistic underpinnings of the work he produced.

Related Topics:
Theoretical - Mechanistic

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