Copper couples

Simmons-Smith reagent Named after the duPont chemists who discovered that diiodo-mechane would react with an active zinc-copper couple in ether to give a reagent with molecular formula ICHiZnl. The reagent adds stereospecifically cis- to alkenes to give cyclopropanes in high yields. 

This zinc-copper couple reacts with methanol, the mixture reducing an alkyl halide to an alkane ... 

It was discovered in 1940 that some acetylenic chlorides are converted into allenes by treatment with a zinc-copper couple in ethanol. This method appears to... 

To a suspension of a tinc-copper couple in 150 ml of 100 ethanol, prepared from 80 g of zinc powder (see Chapter II, Exp. 18), was added at room temperature 0.10 mol of the acetylenic chloride (see Chapter VIII-2, Exp. 7). After a few minutes an exothermic reaction started and the temperature rose to 45-50°C (note 1). When this reaction had subsided, the mixture was cooled to 35-40°C and 0,40 mol of the chloride was added over a period of 15 min, while maintaining the temperature around 40°C (occasional cooling). After the addition stirring was continued for 30 min at 55°C, then the mixture was cooled to room temperature and the upper layer was decanted off. The black slurry of zinc was rinsed five times with 50-ml portions of diethyl ether. The alcoholic solution and the extracts were combined and washed three times with 100-ml portions of 2 N HCl, saturated with ammonium chloride. 

An organozmc compound that occupies a special niche m organic synthesis is lodo methyhinc iodide (ICH2ZnI) It is prepared by the reaction of zinc-copper couple [Zn(Cu) zinc that has had its surface activated with a little copper] with diiodomethane m diethyl ether... 

Copper sulfate, in small amounts, activates the zinc dust by forming zinc—copper couples. Arsenic(III) and antimony(TTT) oxides are used to remove cobalt and nickel they activate the zinc and form intermetaUic compounds such as CoAs (49). Antimony is less toxic than arsenic and its hydride, stibine, is less stable than arsine and does not form as readily. Hydrogen, formed in the purification tanks, may give these hydrides and venting and surveillance is mandatory. The reverse antimony procedure gives a good separation of cadmium and cobalt. 

In 1958 Simmons and Smith described a new and general synthesis of cyclopropanes by treatment of olefins with a reagent prepared from methylene iodide and a zinc-copper couple in ether solution. 

A mixture consisting of 0.69 g (10.5 mmoles) of zinc-copper couple, 12 ml of dry ether, and a small crystal of iodine, is stirred with a magnetic stirrer and 2.34 g (0.7 ml, 8.75 mmoles) of methylene iodide is added. The mixture is warmed with an infrared lamp to initiate the reaction which is allowed to proceed for 30 min in a water bath at 35°. A solution of 0.97 g (2.5 mmoles) of cholest-4-en-3/ -ol in 7 ml of dry ether is added over a period of 20 min, and the mixture is stirred for an additional hr at 40°. The reaction mixture is cooled with an ice bath and diluted with a saturated solution of magnesium chloride. The supernatant is decanted from the precipitate, and the precipitate is washed twice with ether. The combined ether extracts are washed with saturated sodium chloride solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the residue is chromatographed immediately on 50 g of alumina (activity III). Elution with benzene gives 0.62 g (62%) of crystalline 4/5,5/5-methylene-5 -cholestan-3/5-ol. Recrystallization from acetone gives material of mp 94-95° Hd -10°. 

Estr-5(10)-ene-3a,17 -diol (10 g, 36.2 mmoles) is added over a period of 1 hr to a refluxing mixture consisting of 60 g (0.92 moles) of zinc-copper couple, 350 ml of dry ether and 180 g (54 ml, 0.67 moles) of methylene iodide. After the addition is complete, half of the solvent is removed by distillation and 200 ml dry ether is added. The reaction mixture is then transferred to a sealed stainless steel tube and maintained for 3 hr at 92° before being cooled in an ice bath and poured into 500 ml of saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The resultant mixture is extracted with ether and the extracts are dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated to yield a solid residue which gives 8.4 g (80%) 5,19-cyclo-5a,10a-androstane-3a,17) -diol mp 161-163° [aJo 40° (CHCI3), on crystallization from acetone. 

To a stirred solution consisting of 5 g (9.45 mmoles) 3, 17) -dibenzoyloxy-5a-androst-7-en-6a-ol in a mixture of 150 ml of dry ether and 150 ml of glyme is added lOg (0.16 moles) of zinc-copper couple and 26.7 (8 ml, 0.1 moles) methylene iodide. The mixture is heated under reflux for 4 hr, cooled to room temperature, diluted with 200 ml of ether and filtered. The filtrate is washed with a saturated solution of sodium chloride and water, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether is removed under reduced pressure and the residue is crystallized from acetone-hexane to yield 4.4 g (86%) of 3, 17 -dibenzoyloxy-7a,8a-methylen-5a,8a-androstan-6a-ol mp 166-167° [ ]d -62° (CHCI3). 

Monofluoroalkenes have been prepared by the addition of fluoromethylene-triphenylphosphorane generated m situ by treatment of fluoroiodomethyltri-phenylphosphomum iodide with zinc-copper couple in dimethylformamtde [49] (equation 47) (Table 181. 

The key step to this first reported case of the highly diastereoselective addition of a fluorinated enolate in an aldol process is the selective formation of the enolate a,a-Difluonnated enolates prepared by a metallation process employing either a zinc-copper couple [S] or reduced titanium species [9] undergo aldol condensation smoothly (equation 9) (Table 5)... 

The importance of solvent effects in the preparation of perfluoroalkyzinc reagents is further illustrated in the reaction of perfluoroalkyl iodides with zinc-copper couple. In DMSO, DMF, and HMPA, the main products are the fluo-roolefins The formation of the fluoroolefin is facilitated when the reaction is carried out in the presence of potassium thiocyanate [30] (equation 21)... 

Perfluoroalkyl iodides can be directly carboxylated with zinc and carbon dioxide under ultrasonic conditions [39] (equation 45) or by the reaction of perfluoroalkyl iodides with carbon dioxide with a zinc-copper couple in DMSO [57] (equation 46) Alkylation of the intermediate carboxylate gives the corresponding ester [52]... 

In similar work, CF3CCI2CO2CH3 yields methyl a-trifluoromethyl-a,(i-un-saturated carboxylates when reacted with a zinc-copper couple, aldehydes, and acetic anhydride [67] (equation 55). This methodology gives (Z)-a-fluoro-a- -un-saturated carboxylates from the reaction of carbonyl compounds with CFCI2CO2CH3 and zinc and acetic anhydride [6 ]. 

The arylcopper reagents couple with 1-iodoarylacetylenes to give the unsym-metrical diarylacetylenes [25(S] (equation 176) Reaction with tetrabromoethyl- ene gives bis(pentafluorophenyl)acetylene in 66% yield [25S] (equation 177) Pen-tafluorophenyl copper couples with (bromoethynyl)triethylsilane to give C6F5C=CSi(C2H5)3 in 85% yield [259]... 

In a similar reaction, iodine fluonde also can be removed from perfluorobutyl-, perfluorohexyl-, and perfluorooctyl iodide by using zinc-copper couple in dimethyl sulfoxide or dimethylformamide [71]... 

Without question, the most powerful method for cyclopropane formation by methylene transfer is the well-known Simmons-Smith reaction [6]. In 1958, Simmons and Smith reported that the action of a zinc-copper couple on diiodomethane generates a species that can transform a wide variety of alkenes into the corresponding cyclopropanes (Scheme 3.3) [7]. 

With special techniques for the activation of the metal—e.g. for removal of the oxide layer, and the preparation of finely dispersed metal—the scope of the Refor-matsky reaction has been broadened, and yields have been markedly improved." The attempted activation of zinc by treatment with iodine or dibromomethane, or washing with dilute hydrochloric acid prior to use, often is only moderately successful. Much more effective is the use of special alloys—e.g. zinc-copper couple, or the reduction of zinc halides using potassium (the so-called Rieke procedure ) or potassium graphite. The application of ultrasound has also been reported. ... 

By reaction of zinc-copper couple with diiodomethane 2 an organozinc species 4 is formed, similar to a Grignard reagent. Its structure cannot be fully described by a single structural formula. The actual structure depends on the reaction conditions—e.g. the solvent used this corresponds to the Schlenk equilibrium as it is observed with the Grignard reaction ... 

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