Question

What is the reaction between alkyl halide and zinc called?

Answer 1

Do you mean the Reformatsky reaction?

Explanation:

This is the zinc analogue of the famous Grignard reagent. An alpha-halo ester is treated with zinc dust to give an enolate:

`X-CH_2-C(=O)OR + Zn rarr XZnCH_2C(=O)OR`

The zinc enolate is then treated with an acetone.

`ROC(=O)CH_2ZnX + R_1-C(=O)-R_2 rarr R_1R_2C(-OZnX)(CH_2C(=O)OR)`

The zinc enolate is less reactive than the equivalent magnesium or lithium species in that it does not add to itself.