New Efficient Preparation of Functionalized Arylzinc or Thienylzinc Compounds from Aryl or Thienyl Chlorides Using Cobalt Catalysis

A new chemical method is described for the preparation of aryl or thienyl zinc intermediates from their corresponding aromatic or thienyl chlorides in a mixture of acetonitrile-pyridine, using cobalt catalysis. This procedure allows for the synthesis of a variety of functionalized arylzinc species from reactive arylchlorides or chlorothiophenes in good to excellent yields. Some of these arylzinc compounds have been coupled with aromatic bromides using palladium catalysis.