New developments in zinc-mediated organic synthesis

Results of current studies on mechanism of the reactions of diorganozinc compounds with 1,4-disubstituted-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadienes are discussed. Independent syntheses of some of the proposed cationic and neutral (radical) organozinc intermediates are described as well as the unique reactivity of these organozinc species which leads to selective synthesis of e.g.β-lactams, 2- and 3-pyrrolidinones and indolizines.