Organozinc Reagents

Organozinc reagents, first prepared by Frankland in 1848, are used extensively in organic synthesis as powerful C–C bond-forming tools, participating in Cu(I)-promoted reactions (developed at Rieke Metals, Inc.) or in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions( i.e. the Negishi coupling), as well as Michael additions, and electrophilic amination reactions. Interestingly, the choice of preparative route to organozinc reagents of the type RZnX (R=alkyl, aryl; X=halide) plays an important role in the reactivity and stability of these compounds.

We offer a comprehensive range of organozinc compounds, including Rieke^® Organozinc Reagents that are stable as solutions in tetrahydrofuran, Rieke^® Zinc, as well as numerous pre-formed Rieke^® organozinc reagents. Prior to the discovery of Rieke^® Zinc, it was not possible to react alkyl, aryl, and vinyl bromides or chlorides directly with zinc metal. The preparation of these reagents was only possible by a metathesis reaction of a zinc halide with an organolithium or Grignard reagent. Unfortunately, this approach was of limited utility since the process was not compatible with many types of functional groups. Rieke^® Zinc, on the other hand, will react directly with the bromides or chlorides and will tolerate a variety of sensitive groups such as nitriles, esters, amides, ethers, sulfides, and ketones to give functionalized organozinc reagents.