What is the reaction between alkyl halide and zinc called?
1 Answer
Feb 20, 2016
Do you mean the Reformatsky reaction?
Explanation:
This is the zinc analogue of the famous Grignard reagent. An alpha-halo ester is treated with zinc dust to give an enolate:
The zinc enolate is then treated with an acetone.
The zinc enolate is less reactive than the equivalent magnesium or lithium species in that it does not add to itself.
