Microwave‐Assisted, Aqueous Wittig Reactions: Organic‐Solvent‐ and Protecting‐Group‐Free Chemoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Alkenes

Free from protection! A general, chemoselective, protecting‐group‐ and organic‐solvent‐free route to stilbenes and heterostilbenes involving the direct synthesis of triethyl benzylic and allylic phosphonium salts from the corresponding alcohols and their microwave‐assisted, aqueous Wittig reactions is described.