Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction

English

Etymology

In 1958, Leopold Horner published a modified Wittig reaction using phosphonate-stabilized carbanions. William S. Wadsworth and William D. Emmons further defined the reaction.

Noun

Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction (plural Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions)

1. A chemical reaction used in organic chemistry of stabilized phosphonate carbanions with aldehydes (or ketones) to produce predominantly E-alkenes.

Alternative forms

• HWE reaction (initialism)

Synonyms

• Horner-Wittig reaction