A New Preparation of Diorganozincs from Olefins via a Nickel Catalyzed Hydrozincation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(94)02438-H

The reaction of olefins with diethylzinc in the presence of catalytic amounts of Ni(acac)2 provides dialkylzincs (neat, 40-50 degC, 2-6 h).These zinc reagents can be trapped by various electrophiles or used for the catalytic asymmetric addition to aldehydes (>85 percent ee).Allylic and homoallylic alcohols are especially good substrates for the reaction.