Grignard reagents, addition mechanism

SCHEME 2. A termolecular mechanism for Grignard reagent addition to carbonyl compounds via... 

Magnesio-ene reaction, 46 47, 356 357 Mechanism of Barbier reaction, 406 407 Mechanism of Grignard reagents addition reactions. 219 248 concerted (polar), 221, 237 242 cyclic transition state see Mechanism of Grignard reagents, addition reactions, concerted [polar]) development of reactivity spectrum. 225-235, 246... 

A mechanism of the 1,2-addition of Grignard reagents to ketones has been suggested by Swain involving a six-membered cyclic transition state. Ashby proposed a detailed mechanism as shown in (l)-(2). 

Grignard reagents do react with epoxides 24 by an SN2-mechanism, resulting in a ring-opening reaction. An epoxide carbon bearing no additional substituent—i.e. a methylene group—is more reactive towards nucleophilic attack than a substituted one ... 

As with the reduction of carbonyl compounds discussed in the previous section, we ll defer a detailed treatment of the mechanism of Grignard reactions until Chapter 19. For the moment, it s sufficient to note that Grignard reagents act as nucleophilic carbon anions, or carbanions ( R ), and that the addition of a Grignard reagent to a carbonyl compound is analogous to the addition of hydride ion. The intermediate is an alkoxide ion, which is protonated by addition of F O"1 in a second step. 

Acid halides are among the most reactive of carboxylic acid derivatives and can be converted into many other kinds of compounds by nucleophilic acyl substitution mechanisms. The halogen can be replaced by -OH to yield an acid, by —OCOR to yield an anhydride, by -OR to yield an ester, or by -NH2 to yield an amide. In addition, the reduction of an acid halide yields a primary alcohol, and reaction with a Grignard reagent yields a tertiary alcohol. Although the reactions we ll be discussing in this section are illustrated only for acid chlorides, similar processes take place with other acid halides. 

The high diastereoselectivity which is found in the nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagents to chiral 2-0x0 acetals can be explained by a chelation-controlled mechanism. Thus, coordination of the magnesium metal with the carbonyl oxygen and the acetal moiety leads to a rigid structure 3A in the transition state with preferred attack of the nucleophile occurring from the S/-side. 

The MgX of Grignard reagents can migrate to terminal positions in the presence of small amounts of TiCU." The proposed mechanism consists of metal exchange (12-33), elimination-addition, and metal exchange ... 

The reaction has been applied to nonheterocyclic aromatic compounds Benzene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene have been alkylated with alkyllithium reagents, though the usual reaction with these reagents is 12-20, and Grignard reagents have been used to alkylate naphthalene. The addition-elimination mechanism apparently applies in these cases too. A protected form of benzaldehyde (protected as the benzyl imine) has been similarly alkylated at the ortho position with butyl-lithium. ... 

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