Green organic synthesis (intro)
Advanced Organic (UG) · Chemistry
Study notes
Compare: Wittig (Ph₃P=O waste) vs catalytic olefination by atom economy. Step 1: Wittig: Ph₃P=CH₂ + R₂C=O → alkene + Ph₃P=O — huge phosphine oxide waste. Step 2: Atom economy: alkene mass / total reactant mass — low (~30%). Step 3: Catalytic metathesis: minimal waste — high atom economy. Step 4: Green chemistry prefers catalysis — waste is designed out!