Unique reactivities of new highly coordinated ate complexes of organozinc derivatives

The reactivity of tetraalkylorganozincates and related modified organozincates was investigated. 1H NMR study of organozincates showed a difference between these highly coordinated zincates and lithium trimethylzincate. A comparison of the reactivity of these reagents revealed a different regioselectivity for epoxide opening and a different reactivity toward halogen-metal exchange. A distinction in structure and reactivity between these zincates and ordinary lithium trialkylzincates is thus deemed imperative.