Synthesis of substituted adamantylzinc reagents using a Mg-insertion in the presence of ZnCl₂ and further functionalizations.

The LiCl-mediated Mg-insertion in the presence of ZnCl2 allows an efficient synthesis of adamantylzinc reagents starting from the corresponding functionalized tertiary bromides. The highly reactive adamantylzinc species readily undergo a broad variety of functionalizations such as Negishi cross-couplings, Cu(I)-catalyzed acylations and allylations, and 1,4-addition reactions leading to the expected products in excellent yields. Furthermore, the adamantyl moiety could be introduced as α-substituent in terthiophene, increasing its solubility due to the higher lipophilicity and the prevention of π-stacking.