Reformatskii reaction

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The Reformatskii reaction is an organic reaction which condenses aldehydes 1 (or ketones) with α-halo esters 2 with metallic zinc to form β-hydroxy-esters 3.[1][2]

The Reformatskii reaction

The organozinc reagent, also called a 'Reformatskii enolate', is prepared by treating an alpha-halo ester with zinc dust. Reformatskii enolates are less reactive than Grignard reagents and hence nucleophillic addition to the ester group does not occur.

Some reviews have been published.[3][4]

[edit] Variations

In one variation of the Reformatsky reaction[5] an iodolactone is coupled with an aldehyde with triethylborane in toluene at -78°C.

Reformatsky reaction Danishefsky variation ref. Lambert 2006

[edit] References

  1.   Reformatskii, S. Ber. 1887, 20, 1210.
  2.   Reformatskii, S. J. Russ. Phys. Chem. Soc. 1890, 22, 44.
  3.   Shriner, R. L. Org. React. 1942, 1, 1. (Review)
  4.   Rathke, M. W. Org. React. 1975, 22, 423. (Review)
  5.   Total Synthesis of UCS1025A Tristan H. Lambert and Samuel J. Danishefsky J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128(2), 426 - 427. (Communication) DOI: 10.1021/ja0574567 Abstract

[edit] See also