High temperature metalation of functionalized aromatics and heteroaromatics using (tmp)2Zn x 2 MgCl2 x 2 LiCl and microwave irradiation.

A wide range of polyfunctional aryl and heteroaryl zinc reagents were efficiently prepared in THF via direct zincation using (tmp)2Zn x 2 MgCl2 x 2 LiCl and microwave irradiation. Ester and cyano functions as well as ketones are compatible with the high temperatures of the zincation. The resulting bis-organo zinc species undergo a number of subsequent reactions leading to highly functionalized aromatics and heteroaromatics in good to excellent yields.