Described herein are perfluoroalkylated zinc compounds having the structure of Formula (I) or Formula (II), which can be used to perfluoroalkylate organic, inorganic and organometallic substrates. Methods of making and using these compounds by reacting zinc or a dialkylzinc compound with a perfluoroalkyl dihalide in a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane or diglyme, are also described.