Functionalization organozinc compounds

The related zinc cuprates formed from diorganozinc reagents and copper(I) cyanide also undergo smooth SN2 substitution reactions with propargyl oxiranes in the presence of phosphines or phosphites (Scheme 2.12). These transformations can also be performed with catalytic amounts of the copper salt since no direct reaction between the organozinc reagent and the substrate interferes [31, 34], and therefore should also be applicable to functionalized organozinc compounds. 

Functionalized organozinc halides are best prepared by direct insertion of zinc dust into alkyl iodides. The insertion reaction is usually performed by addition of a concentrated solution (approx. 3 M) of the alkyl iodide in THF to a suspension of zinc dust activated with a few mol% of 1,2-dibromoethane and MeaSiCl [7]. Primary alkyl iodides react at 40 °C under these conditions, whereas secondary alkyl iodides undergo the zinc insertion process even at room temperature, while allylic bromides and benzylic bromides react under still milder conditions (0 °C to 10 °C). The amount of Wurtz homocoupling products is usually limited, but increases with increased electron density in benzylic or allylic moieties [45]. A range of poly-functional organozinc compounds, such as 69-72, can be prepared under these conditions (Scheme 2.23) [41]. 

SCHEME 3. Functionalized organozinc compounds prepared by oxidative addition... 

---