Organozinc compounds coupling reactions

The intramolecular Wurtz-type coupling of dihaloorganic compounds with use of metallic zinc is a classical synthetic route to cyclic compounds. For example, cyclopropane derivatives can be prepared from 1,3-dihalo-propanes (29, 189a, 248, 451), and cyclobutane derivatives from 1,4-dihalobutanes (71). These reactions presumably proceed via the intermediate formation of organozinc compounds. The reaction of diethylzinc with esters of a,a -dibrominated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids leads to the... 

An organozinc compound that occupies a special niche in organic synthesis is iodo-methylzinc iodide (ICH2ZnI). It is prepared by the reaction of zinc-copper couple [Zn(Cu), zinc that has had its surface activated with a little copper] with diiodomethane in diethyl ether. 

Organozinc compounds are also useful in palladium-catalyzed coupling with aryl and alkenyl halides. Procedures for arylzinc,156 alkenylzinc,157 and alkylzinc158 reagents have been developed. The ferrocenyldiphosphine dppf has been found to be an especially good Pd ligand for these reactions.159... 

Lack of cooling during preparation of the Simmons-Smith organozinc reagent caused the reaction to erupt. The possibly pyrophoric nature of organozinc compounds and the presence of ether presents a severe fire hazard [1]. An alternative, safer method of activating the zinc for the reaction involves use of ultrasonic irradiation rather than the copper-zinc couple [2]. 

The cross-coupling reaction of thiomethylpyrimidines 99 with organozinc compounds 100 in the presence of palladium was found to produce pyrimidines 101 in good to excellent yields <00SL905>. 

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. 

Carbon dioxide instead of aldehydes can be involved in Ni(0)-promoted reductive coupling reactions (Equations (76) and (77) Scheme 90).434,434a 434c A stoichiometric amount of Ni(COD)2/DBU reacts with C02 and dienes, alkynes, or allenes to afford a metallacycle intermediate. This metallacycle reacts with organozinc compounds or aldehydes in one-pot to give carboxylic acid derivatives. As shown in Scheme 90, double carboxylation occurs in the presence of dimethylzinc, where the stereochemical outcome is opposite to that of the reaction with diphenylzinc. 

The reactivity of these organozinc compounds depends on the experimental protocol. The coupling reaction of these compounds with various substrates is thus more efficient when the organozinc compound is prepared in the presence of the substrate. This suggests the formation of an R—Zn intermediary species which would be more reactive than the classical organozinc compound RZnX. 

The isoprenylation of isovaleraldehyde led to the product in 68% isolated yield, higher than with a conventional procedure using zinc dust in DMF, or refluxing THF. The same procedure was used for the coupling reaction of allylic bromides with aldehydes and ketones, via the preliminary formation of organozinc compounds coming from the reaction between the electrolytic zinc and allylic bromides12. 

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