Generation and Cross-Coupling of Organozinc Reagents in Flow

A versatile flow synthesis method for in situ formation of organozinc reagents and subsequent cross-coupling with aryl halides and activated carboxylic acids is reported. Formation of organozinc reagents is achieved by pumping organic halides, in the presence of ZnCl₂ and LiCl, through an activated Mg-packed column under flow conditions. This method provides efficient in situ formation of aryl, primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl organozinc reagents, which are subsequently telescoped downstream to a Negishi or decarboxylative Negishi cross-coupling reaction. The described method offers access to a variety of C-C bond formations with organozinc reagents that are otherwise commercially unavailable or difficult to prepare under traditional batch reaction conditions.