A 2002 JACS communication describes several Wittig reactions occurring in the absence of a liquid solvent, apparently induced by the force of metal balls milling a mixture of solid reagents. Little is known or postulated about the mechanism involved in this type of reaction, which fosters this interest.

An attempt to appreciate the mechanism is producing different avenues of mechanically induced solid-state reactions and suggesting different reagents of use both in the solid state and in more traditional liquid phase Wittig reactions. Relative base strength and salt solubility in organic solvents is of specific interest in this study.