The implementation of green chemistry experiments in the sophomore organic teaching lab is essential in order to increase student awareness of issues that pertain to sustainability and reducing waste that impacts the environment. Aspects of green chemistry that draw attention to these important issues include, but are not limited to, the use of safer solvents, the development of energy efficient reactions, the use of less hazardous chemicals, and the prevention of waste. To demonstrate the ease of introducing green chemistry principles into the organic chemistry teaching lab a Wittig reaction was chosen to be “greened.” The green Wittig reaction described within this report was performed at ambient temperature and in an aqueous medium; in addition, the reaction was complete within one hour, and the transformation was accomplished in “one-pot.” Finally, students analyzed the Wittig products using ¹H NMR spectroscopy to confirm structure and to determine the E:Z ratio.

second-year undergraduate, organic chemistry, inquiry-based, problem solving, Wittig reaction, green chemistry