Formation and reactions of alkylzinc reagents in room-temperature ionic liquids.
[reaction: see text] The presence of a suitable amount of bromide or chloride ions was found to be critical in forming the alkylzinc reagents from alkyl iodides and zinc metal in the room-temperature ionic liquid, N-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate. Beta-hydride transfer in the reactions of butylzinc reagents with aldehydes can also be reduced by a bromide ion.