An efficient cobalt(I)-catalysed reformatsky reaction using α-chloro esters

Abstract

An efficient cobalt(I)-catalysed Reformatsky reaction using α-chloro esters has been developed. The catalyst is prepared by reducing the cobalt(II) chloride (5%)/1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe)(5%)/zinc iodide (10%) system with zinc metal in acetonitrile in the presence of both the α-chloro ester and the carbonyl compound; good to excellent conversions to β-hydroxy esters are obtained at room temperature in 2.5 h. © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.