Reactions of zinc dialkyls with (perfluorophenyl)boron compounds: Alkylzinc cation formation vs C6F5 transfer

Reaction between ZnR2 and [H(OEt2)(2)] [B(C6F5)(4)] in ether leads to the s alts [RZn(OEt2)(3)]-[B(C6F5)(4)], while mixtures of ZnR2 (R = Me, Et) and B (C6F5)(3) in toluene-d(8) undergo facile alkyl/C6F5 group exchange to give Zn(C6F5)(2). (toluene). Mixtures of ZnR2 and B(C6F5)(3) in hydrocarbon/diet hyl ether solvent mixtures react with alkyl transfer to afford the ion pair s [RZn(OEt2)(3)] [RB(C6F5)(3)], whereas the reaction of ZnEt2 with [Ph3C] [ B(C6F5)(4)] in toluene-d(8) proceeds with beta -H abstraction to give ethen e and Ph3CH, with the subsequent rapid formation of Zn(C6F5)(2).