[suitske]

I have seen this reaction done using a glove box but never a glove bag.  I plan on using a continuous purge of argon gas but all the commercial glove bags that I have seen have purge vents on the floor of the bag. I will set the bag up in a hood but feel I would get a better purge of the less dense H₂ if the bag were vented at the top instead of the floor. Does anyone have any experience doing a Wittig reaction using NaH in a glove bag?

Thanks in advance,
suitske

[orgopete]

No experience, but my thoughts. Hydrogen is probably inert to the reaction and in an argon atmosphere will not burn nor explode. I don't know the specifics of your glove bag, but if similar to others I've seen, just use it upside down and the vent will be at the top.

[Dan]

I've run HWE reactions in air before (using 60% NaH mineral oil dispersion), they really aren't very water/oxygen sensitive. I usually use an N₂ or Ar balloon, but a glove box/bag is surely overkill? Unless you're using pure NaH maybe?

[kriggy]

IM not sure what your substrate is, but cant you go with weaker base? I did run it using LiOH or other hydroxides in MeOH