Development of highly chemoselective bulky zincate complex, tBu4ZnLi2: design, structure, and practical applications in small-/macromolecular synthesis.

We present full details of the unique reactivities of the newly developed dianion-type bulky zincate, dilithium tetra-tert-butylzincate (tBu(4)ZnLi(2)). With this reagent, halogen-zinc exchange reaction of variously functionalized haloaromatics and anionic polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm)/styrene with excellent chemoselectivity were realized. Halogen-zinc exchange reaction followed by electrophilic trapping with propargyl bromide provided a convenient route to functionalized phenylallenes, particularly those with electrophilic functional groups (such as cyano, amide and halogens). Spectral and computational studies of the structure in the gas and liquid phases indicated extraordinary stabilization of this dianion-type zincate by its bulky ligands.