Nickel-Catalyzed Preparations of Functionalized Organozincs

The reaction of primary alkyl bromides or chlorides with diethylzinc in the presence of Ni(acac)(2) (5 mol %) furnishes the corresponding alkylzinc halides (X = Br, Cl) via a halogen-zinc exchange reaction. The treatment of terminal alkenes with diethylzinc (neat, 25-60 degrees C) in the presence of Ni(acac)(2) as a catalyst (1-5 mol %) and 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) affords the corresponding dialkylzincs via a hydrozincation reaction. Whereas the conversion for simple alkenes bearing a remote functionality reaches 40 to 63%, the hydrozincation of allylic, homoallylic alcohols and allylic amines proceeds very efficiently (85-95% conversion). All the zinc organometallics obtained react with various electrophiles (allylic halides, enones, acid chlorides, alkynyl halides, ethyl propiolate) after transmetalation with CuCN.2LiCl. In the presence of the chiral catalyst 12, the dialkylzincs prepared add to aldehydes with high enantioselectivity.