Preparation of Functionalized Zinc and Copper Organometallics Containing Sulfur Functionalities at the Alpha or Gamma Position

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)97302-7

α-Chloroalkyl phenyl sulfides 1 readily insert zinc in THF at 25 deg C (0.5-2 h), affording sulfur stabilized organozinc derivatives of type 2.The presence of a functional group such as an ester or a cyano group is tolerated in these organometallics.After a transmetallation to the corresponding copper reagent 3, they react with a wide range of electrophiles.Zinc and copper organometallics bearing a thiophenyl or a phenylsulfinyl group at the γ-position have also been prepared showing the generality of our approach.