BRAINCAKEPreparing Grignard Reagents
Grignard reagents are made by reacting a halogenoalkane (or halogenoarene) with magnesium metal in dry ether (ethoxyethane):
CH3CH2Br + Mg → CH3CH2MgBr
Magnesium turnings are placed in a flask with dry ether, and the halogenoalkane is added gradually. The reaction is exothermic, and the mixture is heated gently under reflux to complete it. A small crystal of iodine is often added to start the reaction by cleaning the oxide layer from the magnesium surface.
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All 11 lessons in Organic Synthesis · All Edexcel A-level Chemistry topics