Saturation transfer and chemical exchange measurements of the stereochemical drift occurring during the Wittig reaction

The Wittig reaction of butylidenetriphenylphosphorane with benzaldehyde using LiHMDS as base in THF was studied. The stereochemical drift (different ratio obtained in alkenes versus oxaphosphetane intermediates) was followed by low-temperature 1D NMR techniques. A retro-Wittig reaction is demonstrated using 13C and 31P saturation transfer experiments and homonuclear DPFGSE-ROE techniques.