Preparation and Application of Solid,Salt‐Stabilized Zinc Amide Enolates with Enhanced Air and Moisture Stability

The treatment of various N‐morpholino amides with TMPZnCl?LiCl (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidyl) and Mg(OPiv)₂ in THF at 25 °C provides solid zinc enolates with enhanced air and moisture stability (t _1/2 in air: 1–3 h) after solvent evaporation. These enolates undergo Pd‐ and Cu‐catalyzed cross‐couplings with (hetero)aryl bromides as well as allylic and benzylic halides. The arylated N‐morpholino amides were converted into various ketones by LaCl₃?2 LiCl mediated acylation with Grignard reagents. The new, solid enolates were used to prepare a potent anti‐breast‐cancer drug candidate in six steps and 23 % overall yield.