C₆₀-catalyzed preparation of aryl and heteroaryl magnesium and zinc reagents using Mg/LiCl

Addition of a catalytic amount of C₆₀ fullerene (3 mol %) catalyzes the insertion of magnesium to polycyclic aromatic halides, allowing the preparation of the corresponding Grignard reagents in good yields. Furthermore, the use of a cocktail of metallic salts (Mg, ZnCl₂, LiCl) in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene (3 mol %) allows preparation of some functionalized polyaromatic zinc reagents. The resulting organomagnesium and organozinc reagents efficiently underwent reactions with electrophiles, such as an aldehyde, an acid chloride, an allylic bromide, or an aryl iodide.