12.9.2: Template Reactions
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- 385560
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A template reaction is one in which a metal ion acts as a template to bring reactive sites in close proximity. In the absence of the metal ion, the same reaction would proceed to form a different product. An example of the template effect is the dialykation of nickel dithiolate (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)). The same dialkylation in the absence of the Ni template creates a polymer.
Another example of a template reaction is in the synthesis of crown ethers from dialkylations that are templated by metal ions. Again, the same reaction carried out without the template metal would form a polymer.
