Grignard reagents have the general formula RMgX. They are made by refluxing a haloalkane with magnesium in dry ether. They can also be used to make carboxylic acids and alcohols.
Equations
These are general chemical equations. You will need to be able to use these when you write equations for specific substances.
Grignard reagents have the general formula RMgX. They are made under reflux by reacting a haloalkane with magnesium in a non-aqueous solvent, such as dry ether.
Grignard reagents react with carbon dioxide to form carboxylic acids via two steps. Firstly, carbon dioxide gas is bubbled through the Grignard reagent in dry ether. Then a dilute acid is added.
A new C-C bond is formed during the reaction. This occurs between the carbon of C−Mg from the Grignard reagent and the carbon of carbon dioxide. One of the C=O bonds in carbon dioxide is broken so it can go on to become the -COO− group, which is then protonated in the second step to give -COOH.
Making alcohols
Grignard reagents react with aldehydes and ketones to form alcohols. A new C-C bondis formed during the reaction. This occurs between the carbon of C−Mg from the Grignard reagent and the carbon of carbonyl group. TheC=O bond in the carbonyl breaks and upon protonation an alcohol group is made.
