Addition of electrochemically prepared arylzinc species onto activated olefins via a cobalt catalysis

The consumable anode process allows the electrochemical preparation of arylzinc compounds in the presence of cobalt chloride as catalyst in a mixed solvent acetonitrile/pyridine (9:1). Conjugate addition of these organometallic reagents to olefins is also obtained in good yields via a new method using CoBr₂(2,2′-bipyridine)₂ as catalyst.