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The use of a 'ready-made' 2-Methyl-THF solution avoids the handling of the very hygroscopic and dusty ZnCl2 powder.

The ZnCl2 / 2-Methy-THF solution was developed mainly for the application in organic synthesis, e.g.:

-transmetallation of organomagnesium and organolithium compounds to the corresponding zinc reagents for C-C coupling reactions (Negishi protocol).
-formation of zinc enolates by deprotonation of carbonyl compounds using standard bases followed by transmetallation with ZnCl2.
-catalysis of cycloaddition reactions e.g. Diels-Alder reactions of electron rich dienes with carbonyl compounds.
-preparation of selective reducing agents, e.g. Zn(BH4)2 by reaction of NaBH4 with ZnCl2.

Reference:
McGarvey, G.J. in Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, Paquette, L.A., Ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York (1995), Vol. 8, 5544.