Lithium triorganozincates, preparation

Lithium triorganozincates are best prepared by the reaction of an alkyllithium (3 equiv.) with zinc chloride or by the addition of an alkyllithium to a dialkylzinc in an ethereal solvent.304,3042-3043 Lithium and magnesium trialkylzinc-ates are more reactive compared to dialkylzincs or alkylzinc halides due to the excess of negative charge at the metallic zinc center, which confers a higher nucleophilicity to the organic substituents. 

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