Reactive zinc

Several techniques have been used to activate the zinc metal and improve yields. For example, pretreatment of zinc dust with a solution of copper acetate gives a more reactive zinc-copper couple.168 Exposure to trimethylsilyl chloride also activates the zinc.169 Wilkinson s catalyst, RhCl(PPh3)3 catalyzes formation of Reformatsky reagents from diethylzinc, and reaction occurs under very mild conditions.170... 

The direct reaction of zinc metal with organic iodides dates back to the work of Frankland(67). Several modifications have been suggested since that time to increase the reactivity of the metal. The majority of these modifications have employed zinc-copper couples(68-72), sodium-zinc alloys(73), or zinc-silver couples(77). Some recent work has indicated that certain zinc-copper couples will react with alkyl bromides to give modest yields of dialkylzinc compounds(74,73). However, all attempts to react zinc with aryl iodides or bromides have met with failure. The primary use of zinc couples has been in the Simmons-Smith reaction. This reaction has been primarily used with diiodomethane as 1,1-dibromides or longer chain diiodides have proven to be too unneactive even with the most reactive zinc couples. 

Highly reactive zinc can be prepared by reduction of anhydrous ZnC with potassium/THF or sodium/DME(l 7,29). This zinc has been shown to undergo rapid oxidative additions with alkyl bromides to produce near quantitative yields of the corresponding dialkylzinc. It also underwent oxidative addition with phenyl iodide and bromide. Moreover, the zinc was found to be useful in the Reformatsky reaction. Reactions could be carried out in diethyl ether at room temperature to generate near quantitative yields of the 3-hydroxyester. 

Two examples of substituted cyclopropane formation are shown below. This reactive zinc should dramatically increase the utility of the Simmons-Smith reaction. 

The transmetallation of the lithiated anion, generated from the tosylate of trifluoro-ethanol, is performed at low temperature with a borane or with cyclopentadienylzir-conium. A further transmetallation affords a second organometallic species that is more stable or more reactive (zinc or copper) and that has a broader synthetic potential... 

Under these conditions, a broad range of polyfunctional alkyl iodides are converted to the corresponding organozinc halides in high yields . In the case of primary alkyl iodides, the insertion occurs at 40-50 °C whereas secondary alkyl iodides already react at 25-30°C. Secondary alkyl bromides also react under these conditions , but primary alkyl bromides are usually inert with this type of activation and much better results are obtained by using Rieke zinc L Thus, the reduction of zinc chloride with finely cut lithium and naphthalene produces within 1.5 h highly reactive zinc (Rieke zinc). 

II. ELECTROCHEMICAL GENERATION OF A REACTIVE ZINC FOR THE FORMATION OF STABLE OR TRANSIENT ORGANOZINC REAGENTS AND THEIR REACTIVITY... 

Various electrochemical routes8 have been considered to make a reactive zinc, from zinc(II) ions, capable of reacting with halogenated substrates, RX, which can react with electrophilic derivatives E+. Reactions can be concerted or sequenced as depicted in... 

The corresponding cross-coupled products are obtained in excellent yields (98%) when the reactivate zinc is prepared in the presence of naphthalene. Interestingly, the yield falls down to 19% in the absence of mediator whereas no product was obtained from commercial zinc activated by an acidic solution. 

The electrochemical reduction of acid chlorides takes a very different course when carried out in an undivided cell equipped with nickel cathode and anode79. The product is a symmetrical ketone (57) 57 is formed by a complex sequence involving both electrodes (Scheme 12). This is really a chemical reaction induced by a highly reactive form of nickel produced by dissolution of the anode and plated onto the cathode. We have already encountered similar chemistry involving highly reactive zinc (Section V.A.l). 

At this time the applicability of organozinc chemistry had been limited to those zinc reagents that could be prepared by insertion of zinc powder into the corresponding alkyl iodide.20 Further developments, notable the use of highly reactive zinc (Rieke zinc), obtained by the reduction of zinc halides with lithium naphthalenide, allowed the preparation of zinc reagents from otherwise unreactive organic substrates, such as aryl iodides and aryl bromides (Scheme 1.7).21... 

In 1973, the direct potassium metal reduction of zinc salts was reported.3 This active zinc powder reacted with alkyl and aryl bromides to form the alkyl- and arylzinc bromides under mild conditions.4 The reduction of anhydrous zinc salts by alkali metals can be facilitated through the use of electron carriers. Lithium and sodium naphthalenide reduce zinc salts to give highly reactive metal powders under milder and safer conditions. Graphite5 and liquid ammonia6 have also been employed as electron carriers in producing zinc powders. A highly dispersed reactive zinc powder was formed from the sodium metal reduction of zinc salts on titanium dioxide.7... 

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