The Reformatsky reaction (sometimes spelled Reformatskii reaction) is an organic reaction which condenses aldehydes (or ketones), 1, with α-halo esters, 2, using a metallic zinc to form β-hydroxy-esters, 3. It was discovered by Sergey Nikolaevich Reformatsky.
The organozinc reagent, also called a 'Reformatsky enolate', is prepared by treating an alpha-halo ester with zinc dust. Reformatsky enolates are less reactive than lithium enolates or Grignard reagents and hence nucleophilic addition to the ester group does not occur.
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