New preparation of reactive zinc metal by electrolysis and its use for a facile isoprenylation of aldehydes and ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)60412-4

Reactive zinc metal can be prepared by the electrolysis of a DMF solution containing Et₄NClO₄ with a platinum cathode and a zinc anode. The reaction of 2-bromomethyl-1, 4-dibromo-2-butene (1) with aldehydes or ketones in the presence of the electrogenarated reactive zinc (EGZn) in DMF at 0 °C gave the corresponding isoprenylated alcohols (3a-3n) in good yields.