RX+ Ca---t RCaX(1) availability of higher purity calcium metal than was previously obtainable. The lowcr content of sodium in the calcium metal seemed to be an important factor in this improvement. Reaction 1 was shown to be not restricted to aryl and primary alkyl iodides (1) iK. Kawabata, A. Matsumura, and 6. Yamashita, Tetrahedron, 29, 1069 (1973). contrary to the description in the literature. Bromides and chlorides also afforded ...