Organozinc compounds primary alkyl

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]. 

Direct Reaction of Zn with Alkyl Halides. The direct insertion see Insertion) reaction of Zn metal into alkyl halides - alkyl iodides being the ideal snbstrates - is a nseful reaction to prepare simple or polyfunctional organozinc halide compounds (equation 1). With primary alkyl iodides, the reaction requires an excess of Zn dnst (ca. 3 eqniv), previonsly treated with few mol % of 1,2-dibromoethane and TMSCl, and a temperature of 40 °C in THF. In these conditions, secondary alkyl iodides react at room temperatnre and benzylic and allylic bromides at 0 °C. The insertion see Insertion) into less activated C-X bonds may reqnire more reactive forms of zinc (Riecke zinc), higher temperatures, or the use of polar see Polar Compounds) solvent or cosolvent. 

Organozincs free of complexing solvents may be produced using Zn-Cu couples in a mixed hydrocarbon-carbonyl medium, e.g., MeCOjEt, or MeCOjMe. For primary alkyl iodides, benzene or toluene is recommended, but for secondary compounds, a nonaromatic hydrocarbon is preferred ... 

The scope of the Negishi reaction is broad, similar to that of Stille and Suzuki cross-coupling. The reaction seems to work if R = aryl, vinyl, alkynyl, acyl, allyl, benzyl, homoallyl (-CH2-CH2-CH=CH2) and homobenzyl (-CH2-CH2-Ph), or even primary alkyl, and if X = I, Br, or OTf (Cl works, but often sluggishly). Correspondingly, R = aryl, vinyl, alkynyl, allyl, benzyl, and primary alkyl. The organozinc reagent may either be used as a preformed compound, such as R2Zn... 

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