title: New preparation of benzylic aluminum and zinc organometallics by direct insertion of aluminum powder.
abstract: The reaction of commercial Al-powder (3 equiv) and InCl(3) (1-5 mol %) with benzylic chlorides provides various functionalized benzylic aluminum sesquichlorides under mild conditions (THF, 20 °C, 3-24 h) without homocoupling (<5%). These new benzylic organometallics reacted smoothly with various electrophiles (Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings, or Cu-mediated acylations, allylations, or 1,4-addition reactions). Electron-poor benzylic chlorides or substrates prone to Wurtz coupling can be converted to benzylic zinc compounds by the reaction of Al-powder in the presence of ZnCl(2).
authors.affiliation: Department Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Butenandtstrasse, 5-13, 81377 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Blümke
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Groll
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaghiosoff
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knochel