Chloride Grignard reagents

Pure Ether. Pure ether (entirely free in particular from water) is frequently required in the laboratory, and especially for the preparation and use of Grignard reagents. It is best prepared in quantity for classes by adding an ample quantity of granular calcium chloride to a Winchester bottle of technical ether, and allowing the mixture to stand for at least 24 hours, preferably with occasional shaking. The greater part of the water and... 

Esters (a) and acid chlorides (6) readily react with Grignard reagents to give ketones, which immediately react with a second equivalent of the reagent as in (5) to give tertiary alcohols as before. 

This preparation illustrates the preparation of a liquid hydrocarbon from a Grignard reagent. The Grignard reagent from n-hexyl bromide may be decomposed either with dilute sulphuric acid or with solid ammonium chloride the latter gives a somewhat better 3neld. 

Alternatively, use the equivalent amount of n-butyl chloride and prepare the Grignard reagent as for aec.-biltyl magnesium chloride. 

Organocadmiura compounds may be prepared by the action of anhydrous cadmium chloride upon the corresponding Grignard reagents, for example ... 

The main use of organocadmium compounds is for the preparation of ketones and keto-esters, and their special merit lies in the fact that they react vigorously with acid chlorides of all types but add sluggishly or not at all to multiple bonds (compare addition of Grignard reagents to carbonyl groups). Some t3rpical syntheses are ... 

Solutions of tert.-butylmagnesium chloride and cyclopentylmagnesium chloride in diethyl ether can be prepared in the same way. In these cases also the purity of the chlorides Is of great importance for a successful and smooth conversion into the Grignard reagent. 

After the air in the flask had been replaced completely with nitrogen, 100 ml of dry diethyl ether, 0.20 mol of the cumulenic ether (see Chapter V, Exps. 7, 8 and 11) and 1 g (note 1) of copper(l) bromide were placed in it. A solution of the Grignard-reagent, prepared from 0.50 mol of the chloride (see Chapter II,... 

The order of halide reactivity is I > Br > Cl > F and alkyl halides are more reac tive than aryl and vinyl halides Indeed aryl and vinyl chlorides do not form Grignard reagents m diethyl ether When more vigorous reaction conditions are required tetrahy drofuran (THF) is used as the solvent... 

There are five components to the cost of using a Grignard reagent (/) magnesium metal, (2) the haUde, (J) the solvent, (4) the substrate, and (5) disposal of the by-products. The price of magnesium in mid-1992 was 3.20/kg, having risen from 1.20/kg in 1966 to 1.36/kg in 1970 and 2.90/kg in 1979. Prices for tetrahydrofuran and diethyl ether, the two most commonly used solvents, have also increased (Table 3) in the same period. The cost of the hahde depends on its stmcture, but as a general rule the order of cost is chloride < bromide < iodide. 

One of the largest commercially used Grignard reagents is phenyhnagnesium chloride. Millions of kg per year of this Grignard react captively with inorganic haUdes. Some examples of these products are triphenylphosphine, triphenyl tin hydroxide, sodium tetraphenylborate, and triphenylantimony. 

Experiments ( P nmr) using 0.8 and 2 equivalents of octyhnagnesium chloride with ethyl ben2enephosphinate indicate that the nucleophilic displacement occurs first, foHowed by proton abstraction (80). Interestingly, the order of the two steps is reversed when methyhnagnesium chloride is used (81). This reaction demonstrates the difference ia reactivity between the octyl and the methyl Grignard reagents. 

Using only the phenyhnagnesium chloride without the MnCI catalyst results ia a mixture of products. This mixture iacludes the alcohol(s) resulting from the diaddition of the Grignard reagent to the carbonyl groups. Other catalysts, such as Fe(III) and Ni(II), have also been used to achieve similar results... 

Whereas sulfolane is relatively stable to about 220°C, above that temperature it starts to break down, presumably to sulfur dioxide and a polymeric material. Sulfolane, also stable in the presence of various chemical substances as shown in Table 2 (2), is relatively inert except toward sulfur and aluminum chloride. Despite this relative chemical inertness, sulfolane does undergo certain reactions, for example, halogenations, ting cleavage by alkah metals, ring additions catalyzed by alkah metals, reaction with Grignard reagents, and formation of weak chemical complexes. 

Metalation. Benzene reacts with alkaH metal derivatives such as methyl or ethyUithium ia hydrocarbon solvents to produce phenyUithium [591 -51 -5], CgH Li, and methane or ethane. Chloro-, bromo-, or iodobenzene will react with magnesium metal ia ethereal solvents to produce phenyHnagnesium chloride [100-59-4], C H MgCl, bromide, oriodide (Grignard reagents) (32). 

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