Nickel catalyzed tellurium-zinc exchange reactions. A new preparation of arylzinc reagents

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(96)02482-3

Diaryltellurides 2 and diarylditellurides 3 undergo a smooth tellurium-zine exchange reaction in the presence of catalytic amounts of Ni(acac)₂ (5-10 mmol %) leading to arylzinc derivatives 1. The reaction can be extended to the preparation of alkylzinc compounds and allows a stereoselective cyclization to a 2,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran by a radical ring closure of an unsaturated telluride.