Synthetic Applications of Organozinc Compounds

Freund 1861. It was PebaFs co-worker Freund [7] who was the first to apply the newly developed organozinc compounds for synthetic purposes in organic chemistry. He prepared several ketones by the reaction of these organometallics with acid chlorides. 

Freund reported the following equation to show his reasoning for the replacement of chlorine by an alkyl-group  

The organozinc compound was first prepared in a sealed tube with diethyl ether as the diluent after this reaction was finished volatile material was distilled into a flask after which acetyl chloride was subsequently added dropwise. 

Surprisingly Freund did not make use of Pebal s procedure for the preparation of diethylzinc in ordinary glassware. Using dimethyl- and diethylzinc 

Freund was able to synthesize what was named acetyl-methyl (propanone), acetyl-ethyl (butanone), propionyl-ethyl (3-pentanone) and benzyl-ethyl (1 -phenylpropanone). 

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