Titanium-catalyzed Reformatsky-type reaction

A catalytic titanium mediated Reformatsky reaction is presented. The technique employs cyclopentadienyltitaniumdichloride(IV) (10 mol%) in conjunction with Mn (2 equiv.), as the stoichiometric reductant, and (CF₃CO)₂O (1.5 equiv.), as the scavenger, and it is based on the formation of titanocene(III) chloride as a mild and homogeneous single-electron reductant. The reaction gives moderate yields of the desired Reformatsky adduct, and it works well with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes.