Highly efficient alkylation to ketones and aldimines with Grignard reagents catalyzed by zinc(II) chloride.

A highly efficient alkylation to ketones and aldimines with Grignard reagents in the presence of catalytic trialkylzinc(II) ate complexes derived from ZnCl2 (10 mol %) in situ was developed. This simple Zn(II)-catalyzed alkylation could minimize the well-known but serious problems with the use of only Grignard reagents, which leads to reduction and aldol side products, and the yield of desired alkylation products could be improved.