Current olefination technology revolves around transition metal catalysed reactions or the employment of inefficient stoichiometric methodology. Regardless of the protocols utilised, purification and waste management concerns are significant. In answer to these problems the O’Brien research group has developed the catalytic Wittig reaction – CWR. Importantly the CWR is the only transition metal free catalytic olefination reaction. The CWR has high substrate diversity both in the carbonyl and ylide components coupled with high diastereocontrol across all commonly employed solvents.

The CWR is also extremely efficient leading to significant reduction in both cumulative energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the normal Wittig reaction.