Despite its highly pyrophoric nature, diethylzinc is an important chemical reagent. It is used in
organic synthesis as a source of the ethyl
carbanion in
addition reactions to
carbonyl groups. For example, the
asymmetric addition of an
ethyl group to
benzaldehyde and
imines. Additionally, it is commonly used in combination with
diiodomethane as a
Simmons-Smith reagent to convert
alkenes into
cyclopropyl groups. It is less
nucleophilic than related
alkyllithium and
Grignard reagents, so it may be used when a "softer" nucleophile is needed. It is also used extensively in
materials science chemistry as a zinc source in the synthesis of
nanoparticles. Particularly in the formation of the
zinc sulfide shell for core/shell-type
quantum dots. While in
polymer chemistry, it can be used as part of the catalyst for a
chain shuttling polymerization reaction, whereby it participates in living polymerization. Diethylzinc is not limited to only being used in chemistry. Because of its high reactivity toward air, it was used in small quantities as a
hypergolic or "self igniting" liquid rocket fuel—it ignites on contact with oxidizer, so the rocket motor need only contain a pump, without a spark source for ignition. Diethylzinc was also investigated by the United States
Library of Congress as a potential means of
mass deacidification of books printed on wood pulp paper. Diethylzinc vapour would, in theory, neutralize acid residues in the paper, leaving slightly
alkaline
zinc oxide residues. Although initial results were promising, the project was abandoned. A variety of adverse results prevented the method's adoption. Most infamously, the final prototype suffered damage in a series of diethylzinc explosions from trace amounts of water vapor in the chamber. This led the authors of the study to humorously comment: In microelectronics, diethylzinc is used as a
doping agent. For corrosion protection in
nuclear reactors of the
light water reactor design,
depleted zinc oxide is produced by first passing diethylzinc through an
enrichment centrifuge. The pyrophoricity of diethylzinc can be used to test the inert atmosphere inside a
glovebox. An oxygen concentration of only a few parts per million will cause a bottle of diethylzinc to fume when opened. ==Safety==