preventing self condensation, although unexpectedly this gives mainly the cis product. The second Wittig reaction uses a non-stabilised Wittig reagent, and as expected this gives mainly the cis product. History The Wittig reaction was reported in 1954 by Georg Wittig and his coworker Ulrich Schöllkopf. In part for this contribution, Wittig was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1979. See also Corey–Chaykovsky reagent Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction Julia olefination Peterson olefination Tebbe's reagent Organophosphorus chemistry Homologation reaction Kauffmann olefination Titanium–zinc methylenation References External links Wittig reaction in Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 10, p. 703 (2004); Vol. 75, p. 153 (1998). (Article) Wittig reaction in Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p. 361 (1973); Vol. 45, p. 33 (1965). (Article) Olefination reactions Carbon-carbon bond forming reactions Name reactions German inventions Homologation reactions 1954 in science 1954 in Germany