Cadmium alkoxides synthesis

The metatheis of acetates with the alkali alkoxides (method 5) can be used for the preparation of the methoxides and ethoxides of all three elements and is the only reaction leading to Hg(OR)2 [1623]. The trans-esterification of Zn(OMe)2 (method 6), according to [1121], can be carried out only in the presence of LiOR (forming soluble bimetallic complexes). The direct electrochemical synthesis on the anodic oxidation of metals in alcohols has been described for Zn(OEt)2 and a series of cadmium derivatives (Cd(OR)2 — obtained in the presence of such donor ligands as Dipy, Phen, and Dmso [98]) (method 2). 

This method has been utilized for the synthesis of alkoxides of zinc and cadmium as well as the lanthanides with some specially hindered alcohols (cf. Section IV). 

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