A microwave-assisted highly stereoselective one-pot Wittig reaction under solvent-free conditions

We report a novel microwave-assisted two-step, one-pot protocol for the synthesis of olefins (alkenes) via Wittig reaction. The reaction was carried out under solvent-free conditions using basic alumina both as a heterogeneous catalyst and a solid support. Varieties of aromatic aldehydes were converted into their corresponding olefins within 30–50 min with good to excellent yields. An excellent predominance of E -isomers over Z -isomers (up to 100% E-selectivity) for all the olefin products was observed.