Reformatsky Reaction

Reformatsky Reaction

            Condensation reaction of carbony compound with α-haloester in prescence of zinc metal is known as Reformatsky reaction”. Inert solvent like diehyl ether or tetrahydrofuran(THF) are often used as a solvent for this reaction, sometimes benzene or ether or benzene ether mixture  may also be used.

            It is an addition reaction in which an organozinc reagent is used instead of Grignard’s reagent, to attack the carbonyl group of an aldehyde or ketone. Since the organozinc is less reactive than Grignard’s reagent, a nucleophilic addition to ester group does not take place. The organozinc reagent is prepared by the reaction of an α-bromoester with zinc metal.