Reformatsky reaction with ultrasound

Indium enolates, prepared conveniently by transmetalation of hfhium enolates with IriCl j, react wifh aldehydes to give fhe corresponding -hydroxy esters [80]. Ultrasound irradiation promotes fhe Reformatsky reaction of aldehydes and ethyl bromoacetate wifh indium [81]. Indium-mediated Reformatsky reaction of phenyl a-bromoalkanoates wifh ketones or aldehydes gives di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted -lactones (Scheme 8.57) [82]. Indium-mediated reaction of imines with ethyl bromoacetate gives 3-unsubstituted -lactams (Scheme 8.58) [83]. An indium-Refor-matsky reagent prepared from 2-(chlorodifluoroacetyl)furan couples with aldehydes (Scheme 8.59) [84]. 

In a series of studies [97-99] the one-step - Reformatsky type - addition reaction to carbon-carbon double and triple bonds was investigated with ultrasound irradiation in which zinc was used together with activated allylic bromides such as... 

Ultrasound can give useful improvements in the yield, reaction time, and convenience of organometallic reactions, and these facets of the technique are demonstrated well in its application to the Reformatsky reaction. Yields are improved by up to almost 100 % over the conventional method, and are nerally superior even to those of the trimethyl borate method. Reaction times are reduced by a factor of 5-10, and the need to prepare zinc powder by the active-metal reduction of anhydrous zinc chloride is eliminated. This technique has also been applied to the zinc-mediated dimerization of a,a -dibromo -xylene, although only low yields are obtained, and to the Pd-catalysed zinc coupling of allyl or aryl halides with perfluoroalkyl iodides. ... 

The intramolecular cyclization route to p-lactams still provides interest. P-Amino esters (obtained by a Reformatsky-type reaction of an imine and bromoacetates derived from chiral alcohols) are cyclized by the action Grignard reagents to 4-substituted P-lactams with impressive e.e. <96TL4095>. A similar approach through a Reformatsky-type reaction uses tricarbonyl(Ti -benzaldimine)chromium complexes and ultrasound <96T4849>. 3-Methyl-azetidin-2-ones (obtained from 3-amino-2-methylpropionates) have been resolved and their... 

Activation. Erdik1 has reviewed the methods used since 1970 for activation of zinc and of organozinc reagents. Although chemical activation is still useful, ultrasound activation is being used increasingly. Thus sonic activation allows use of ordinary zinc for cyclopropanation of alkenes with CH2I2 in 67-97% yield and for Reformatsky-type reactions at room temperatures. 

Aldol reactions. Aldol products are obtained in good yields from reaction of ketones with glyoxylic acid monohydrate with assistance of ultrasound irradiation. Substrate-control (by 1,3- + 1,5-asynmietric induction) of the aldol reaction involving y-amino-a-ketoesters under solvent-free conditions is very effective.- With lithium dicyclohexylamide and InCl, the reaction of esters with aldehydes furnishes P-hydroxy esters, and that of a-bromo esters affords a,p-epoxy esters." These are typical Reformatsky and Darzens reaction products, respectively. 

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