Mixing a finely pulverized alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt and potassium hydride in 1: 1 molar ratio gives a ready-to-use powder the components of which react rapidly when tert- butyl methyl ether is added under stirring. When, in general after a few minutes, the generation of the (triphenyl-phosphonio) alkanide is complete, it can be immediately used for the Wittig olefination of a carbonyl compound. Compared to sodium amide based “ ...