pink to brown crystalline powder
Wittig reagent for the conversion of aldehydes and ketones to two-carbon homologated, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.
(Formylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane is used as Wittig reagent. It is also used as Pharmaceutical Intermediates. It is employed as raw material in organic Synthesis, Agrochemicals.
Recrystallise it from Me2CO, or dissolve it in *C6H6, wash with N NaOH, dry (MgSO4), evaporate, and crystallise the residue from Me2CO. It can be prepared from its precursor, formylmethyltriphenylphosphonium chloride (which crystallises from CHCl3/EtOAc), by treatment with Et3N and extraction with *C6H6. [Tripett & Walker J Chem Soc 1266 1961.]
