One-step deprotonation route to zinc amide and ester enolates for use in aldol reactions and Negishi couplings

Simple amides and esters are conveniently deprotonated by Zn(tmp)2 (tmp = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl anion) to generate Zn enolates. Enolates formed by this method are suitable for use in aldol reactions that tolerate base-sensitive functional groups. Additionally, the Zn enolates are readily coupled with aryl bromides using typical Pd-catalyzed coupling methods.