Synthesis of Salt-Free Diorganozinc Reagents and Their Use in Asymmetric Reactions

Significance

A new method for the synthesis of salt-free diorganozinc species from Grignard reagents using Zn(OMe)₂ is presented in this article. The salt-free diorganozinc species were applied to several enantioselective addition reactions which are known to be sensitive to the presence of salts. The respective chiral products were obtained with good to high yields and excellent enantiomeric excesses. No change in the efficiency of all asymmetric reactions was observed when neat dialkyl­zinc reagents were used.