Organocadmium reagents reactions with carbonyl compounds

The use of organocadmium compounds, RjCd, lies in the fact that they react only with acid chlorides and no other carbonyl compounds. Thus, acid chlorides can be converted to ketones with no risk of further reaction. Organocadmium compounds are prepared (Equation 15.3) by reaction of cadmium chloride with a Grignard reagent, and the reactions only work well when R is aryl or primary alkyl. An example is provided in Figure 15.45. 

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