Kocienski

The Julia-Lythgoc olefination operates by addition of alkyl sulfone anions to carbonyl compounds and subsequent reductive deoxysulfonation (P. Kocienski, 1985). In comparison with the Wittig reaction, it has several advantages sulfones are often more readily available than phosphorus ylides, and it was often successful when the Wittig olefination failed. The elimination step yields exclusively or predominantly the more stable trans olefin stereoisomer. 

Submitted by Melvin S. Newman and W. M. Stalick Checked by P. J. Kocienski and G. BiiCHi... 

P. J. Kocienski, Protecting Groups, Thieme Medical Publishers, New York, 1994, Chapter 5. 

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