1,2-dizinc reagents can be prepared by an indium-catalyzed insertion of zincpowder into aromatic 1,2-dibromides or 1-bromo-2-triflates. These 1,2-dimetallics undergo Cu- or Pd-catalyzed acylations, allylations, or cross couplings. A variety of functionalized 1,2-dizinc reagents can be prepared by an indium-catalyzed insertion of zincpowder into aromatic 1,2-dibromides or 1-bromo-2-triflates. These