Abstract The key step in the trans-selective modification of the Wittig reaction is the α- lithiation of the lithium bromide coordinated ylide–aldehyde adduct (the so-called “P- betaine”). Only phenyllithium effects this deprotonation rapidly and cleanly. Alkyllithiums ( ...
[Carpenter, Alex E.; Margulieux, Grant W.; Millard, Matthew D.; Moore, Curtis E.; Weidemann, Nils; Rheingold, Arnold L.; Figueroa, Joshua S. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 2012 , vol. 51, # 37 p. 9412 - 9416]