Rapid-Flow Synthesis of Zn-Qn Complexes: Teaching Old Ligands New Tricks with Reactive Na 2 (HZnEt 2 ) 2

A new method involving rapid flow of ligand solutions through a cartridge loaded with crystalline sodium diethylzinc hydride and subsequent isolation of three Zn-hydroxyquinoline complexes is described. The rapid-flow approach allowed the pyrophoric starting material to be used outside of the glovebox atmosphere and enabled fast mixing with ligand solutions for zinc complexation in seconds. The identity of all complexes was established by proton ( 1 H) and carbon ( 13 C) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction.