1/22/2012 - Synthesis of Diethylzinc

     I do apologize for my lengthy absence for I had a medical complication that has unfortunately also put my education on hold, but I will promise myself to not lose my chemical knowledge due to this lengthy vacancy, so I think it is best for me to keep up this blog regularly to take my mind off the pain.  As for my first reaction back I have decided to give one that involves an organometallic (that being my passion).`  This just being a Zinc compound arranged in a linear fashion connected to two ethyl molecules creating a Diethylzinc complex.  I chose this to chow the simplicity in the synthesis of these complexes even though it exists in highly complicated bonding.  The reaction was first accomplished in 1848, and later improved to using a 1:1 mixture of ethyl bromide and ethyl iodide (both sources of an ethyl+) and an active Zinc compound such as an alloy of Zinc and Copper.