Microwave‐Assisted, Aqueous Wittig Reactions: Organic‐Solvent‐ and Protecting‐Group‐Free Chemoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Alkenes

Free from protection! A general, chemoselective, protecting-group- and organic-solvent-free route to stilbenes and heterostilbenes involving the direct synthesis of triethyl benzylic and allylic phosphonium salts from the corresponding alcohols and their microwave-assisted, aqueous Wittig reactions is described. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as "Supporting Information". Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.