noun
Usage: usually capitalized W
: a reaction usually of an aryl alkyl ketone ArCO(CH 2 ) n H (as acetophenone) with an aqueous solution of yellow ammonium polysulfide in a heated sealed tube to yield an amide Ar(CH 2 ) n -1 CONH 2 (as alpha-phenyl-acetamide) substituted terminally by aryl