Grignard reagent cadmium halide reaction with

Organocadmium compounds can be prepared from Grignard reagents or organo-lithium compounds by reaction with Cd(II) salts.180 They can also be prepared directly from alkyl, benzyl, and aryl halides by reaction with highly reactive cadmium metal generated by reduction of Cd(II) salts.181... 

In terms of their chemical behavior, dialkylzinc compounds generally react to transfer alkyl groups to other metals. Dialkyls of cadmium are usually prepared by the reaction of a Grignard reagent with a cadmium halide. 

Many organocadmium compounds are known but few have been of commercial importance. Wanklyn first isolated diethyl cadmium in 1856. The properties of this and other dialkylcadmiums are listed in Table 4. In general, these materials are prepared by reaction of an anhydrous cadmium halide with a Grignard or alkyUithium reagent followed by distillation of the volatile material in an inert atmosphere or in vacuo. Only the liquid dimethyl compound is reasonably stable and then only when stored in a sealed tube. Dimethylcadmium is mildly pyrophoric in air and produces dense clouds of white, then brown, cadmium oxide smoke, which is highly toxic if breathed (45). When dropped into water, the liquid sinks in large droplets that decompose with a series of small explosive jerks and pops. For this reason, and particularly because of the low thermal stability, most dialkylcadmium materials are prepared and used in situ without separation, eg, in the conversion of acid chlorides to speciality ketones (qv) ... 

Dialkyl- and diaryl-cadmiums are best prepared by reaction of an anhydrous cadmium halide with the appropriate Grignard reagent or organolithium compound 154 perhalo compounds such as bis(pentafluorophenyl)cadmium can also be obtained in this way 155... 

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