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Organozinc chemistry
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<p>Organozinc chemistry is the study of the physical properties, synthesis, and reactions of organozinc compounds, which are <a href="/facts/Organometallic_compounds/bhqFz2P0">organometallic compounds</a> that contain <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> (C) to <a href="/facts/Zinc/80b1qgk3">zinc</a> (Zn) <a href="/facts/Chemical_bond/ArNUMnIB">chemical bonds</a>. </p><p>Organozinc compounds were among the first organometallic compounds made. They are less reactive than many other analogous organometallic reagents, such as <a href="/facts/Grignard_reaction/DfhXQ6SG">Grignard</a> and <a href="/facts/Organolithium_reagent/xgYnjhP3">organolithium reagents</a>. In 1848 <a href="/facts/Edward_Frankland/LsmhvHnM">Edward Frankland</a> prepared the first organozinc compound, <a href="/facts/Diethylzinc/b7eYFsy3">diethylzinc</a>, by heating <a href="/facts/Ethyl_iodide/cLgSvWVQ">ethyl iodide</a> in the presence of zinc metal. This reaction produced a volatile colorless liquid that spontaneous combusted upon contact with air. Due to their <a href="/facts/Pyrophoric/1b8Sl2AJ">pyrophoric</a> nature, organozinc compounds are generally prepared using <a href="/facts/Air-free_technique/pEW9wY6e">air-free techniques</a>. They are unstable toward <a href="/facts/Protic_solvents/oSApp96e">protic solvents</a>. For many purposes they are prepared <a href="/facts/In_situ/YolKlaCC">in situ</a>, not isolated, but many have been isolated as pure substances and thoroughly characterized. </p><p>Organozincs can be categorized according to the number of carbon substituents that are bound to the metal. </p> <ol><li>Diorganozinc (R2Zn): A class of organozinc compounds in which two alkyl ligands. These may be further divided into subclasses depending on the other <a href="/facts/Ligands/6etB3qeW">ligands</a> attached</li> <li>Heteroleptic (RZnX): Compounds which an <a href="/facts/Electronegative/H7Vq7Uah">electronegative</a> or monoanionic ligand (X), such as a <a href="/facts/Halide/ujYu8kGD">halide</a>, is attached to the zinc center with another alkyl or aryl substituent (R).</li> <li>Ionic organozinc compounds: This class is divided into organozincates (R<i>n</i>Zn−) and organozinc <a href="/facts/Cations/wrbwhF3z">cations</a> (RZnL+<i>n</i>).</li></ol>