Diagram of Grignard reactions

Organomagnesium halides of the general structure R-Mg-X, with R = alkyl, alkenyl or aryl and X = halogen, are called “Grignard” reagents after their inventor, chemist Victor Grignard. Grignard reagents are highly reactive and react with most organic compounds. It also reacts with water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Grignard reagents are prepared by the reaction of magnesium metal with appropriate alkyl halide in ether solvent. The halogen may be chlorine, bromine, or iodine. A related synthesis uses ethylene oxide to prepare alcohols containing two more carbon atoms than that of the alkyl halide. Perhaps the most important use of the Grignard reagent is the reaction with aldehydes and ketones to form alcohols.

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