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.