The Mitsunobu reaction is an organic reaction that converts an alcohol into a variety of functional groups, such as an ester, using triphenylphosphine and an azodicarboxylate such as diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD) or diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (DIAD).[1] The alcohol undergoes an inversion of stereochemistry. It was discovered by Oyo Mitsunobu (1934–2003).