Alkylations of Nonstabilized Carbanions

This chapter provides an overview of the most recent advances in the preparation of polar organometallic compounds (containing alkali metals, magnesium, and zinc), characterized by little if no stabilization, and their reactivity with alkylating agents. After a general introduction on the direct alkylation of alkyl and alkenyl polar organometallics, the chapter focuses on allylation and carbometalation reactions, including diastereo- and enantioselective processes, and finally discusses some of the most updated examples of cross-coupling transformations employing magnesium and zinc organometallics. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.