Organocuprate reagents:
Organocuprate reagents (other source of carbanion equivalents) are prepared through the reaction of one equivalent of cuprous iodide along with two equivalents of an organolithium reagent shown in figure.
![9_Organocuprate reagents.png](https://www.expertsmind.com/CMSImages/9_Organocuprate%20reagents.png)
Figure: Formation of organocuprate reagents.
These reagents are helpful in the 1, 4-addition of alkyl groups to α, β-unsaturated carbonyl systems and can as well be reacted with alkyl halides to generate larger alkanes. The mechanism is thought to be radical based.
![1830_Organocuprate reagents1.png](https://www.expertsmind.com/CMSImages/1830_Organocuprate%20reagents1.png)
Figure: Reaction of an organocuprate reagent with an alkyl halide.