3131. Diethylzinc

Nomenclature

CAS number: 557-20-0
Zinc diethyl.
C4H10Zn; mol wt 123.53.
C 38.89%, H 8.16%, Zn 52.95%.

Description and references

Prepd by the interaction of zinc and ethyl iodide: Simonowitch, Chem. Zentralbl. 1899, I, 1066; Lachmann, Am. Chem. J. 24, 32 (1900); Dennis, Hance, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 47, 370 (1925); from zinc and ethyl bromide, ethyl iodide: C. R. Noller, Org. Synth. coll. vol. II, 184. Used in synthesis of cyclopropanes: J. Furukawa et al., Tetrahedron 24, 53 (1968); eidem, Tetrahedron Lett. 1968, 3495; in synthesis of ketocarbenes: L. T. Scott, W. D. Cotton, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 95, 2708 (1973); in ring expansion of arenes: S. Miyano, H. Hashimoto, Chem. Commun. 1973, 216; in preservation of papers: J. C. Williams, G. B. Kelly Jr., US 3969549 (1976 to U.S.A.); eidem in Adv. Chem. Ser. 193, entitled “Preservation of Paper and Textiles of Historic and Artistic Value 2,” J. C. Williams, Ed. (ACS, Washington DC, 1981) pp 109-117.

Chemical structure

Properties

Mobile liq. Stable in sealed tube and carbon dioxide. d420 1.2065; d48 1.245; mp -28°; bp760 118°; bp30 27°; nHα20 1.4936. Spontaneously combustible, dangerous when wet. Burns with a blue flame, giving off a peculiar, garlic-like odor. Miscible with ether, petr ether, benzene, other hydrocarbons.

Use

In organic synthesis; in preservation on archival papers.