Some uses of mischmetall in organic synthesis

Mischmetall, an alloy of the light lanthanides, has been used in a variety of organic reactions, either as a coreductant in samarium(II)-mediated reactions (Barbier and Grignard-type reactions, pinacolic coupling reactions) or as the promoter of Reformatsky-type reactions. It has been also employed as the starting material for easy syntheses of lanthanide trihalides, the reactivity of which has been explored in Imamoto and Luche-Fukuzawa reactions and in Mukaiyama aldol reactions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.