Synthesis and characterization of pentaerythritol-derived oligoglycol and their application to catalytic Wittig-type reactions.

Several pentaerythritol-derived oligoglycols 1 with free hydroxyl groups are readily prepared by a convergent approach. Quantitative (13)C NMR proves to be an efficient tool for the characterization of oligoglycols. The corresponding telluride of oligoglycol 17 is synthesized and used as a good catalyst for Wittig-type reactions in preparing both disubstituted and trisubstituted olefins in good to high yields.