Organozinc compounds alkylation

Organozinc compounds, alkyl hydroperoxide precursors, 322 Osmium catalysts... 

One of the important new directions in the study of addition reactions of organozinc compounds to aldehydes is the use of ionic liquids. Usually, application of these compounds in reactions with common organometallic reagents has a serious problem ionic solvents are usually reactive toward them, particularly Grignard and organolithium derivatives. It has been recently reported that carbonyl compounds react with allylzinc bromide formed in situ from allyl bromide and zinc in the ionic liquid 3-butyl-l-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmim][BF4].285 Another important finding is that the more reactive ZnEt2 alkylates aldehydes in a number of ionic liquids at room temperature.286 The best yields (up to 96%) were obtained in A-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, [bpy][BF4] (Scheme 107). 

Recent notable improvements by Knochel and co-workers include iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of various acid chlorides 148 with dialkylzinc reagents (Equation (24))324 as well as the iron-catalyzed arylation of aroyl cyanides 149 with Grignard reagents (Equation (25)).3 5 In the first case Knochel s reaction conditions tolerate ester groups on the organozinc compounds, while in the latter case ester, aryl alkyl ether, cyano, and chloro functionalities on the aromatic moieties are compatibles with the reaction conditions. 

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]. 

Equilibria exchanging alkyl or other organic groups between organozinc compounds have been classified as (A) intermolecular exchange, (B) metaUotropic exchange (or shift) and (C) exchange with other metals. 

Tokuda and coworkers have also synthesized organozinc compounds of alkyl iodides by the reaction of iodides (3, 4, 5, 6) with an electrogenerated reactive zinc15. 

The synthesis of organozinc compounds by electrochemical processes from either low reactive halogenated substrates (alkyl chlorides) or pseudo-halogenated substrates (phenol derivatives, mesylates, triflates etc.) remains an important challenge. Indeed, as mentioned above, the use of electrolytic zinc prepared from the reduction of a metal halide or from zinc(II) ions does not appear to be a convenient method. However, recent work reported by Tokuda and coworkers would suggest that the electroreduction of a zinc(II) species in the presence of naphthalene leads to the formation of a very active zinc capable of reacting even with low reactive substrates (equation 23)11. 

The zincates K [ZnR(tBuNCH=CHN Bu)] contain the diazabutadiene fragment. They have been made, via a series of radical-anion complexes, from the alkylation of B uN = CHCH = N Bu by potassium in the presence of organozinc compounds, and characterized as THF and Et20 adducts, 70 and 71, respectively. Each forms linear coordination polymers comprising alternate potassium cations and zincate anions held together... 

Table 5.2. Alkylations with organomagnesium and organozinc compounds.

R = alkenyl, aryl, allyl, benzyl, propargyl R = alkenyl, aryl, alkynyl, alkyl, benzyl, allyl The Negishi Coupling was the first reaction that allowed the preparation of unsymmetrical biaryls in good yields. The versatile nickel- or palladium-catalyzed coupling of organozinc compounds... 

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