Grignard reagents dimerization

Crystal stmctures of Grignard reagents do not necessarily correspond to their stmcture in solution. In general, the crystal stmctures (61—64) indicate the reagents are ligated with THF or diethyl ether and are frequentiy observed to be dimers. The Mg atoms in the dimers do not have a Mg—Mg bond instead the dimers are typically held together by a haUde bridge. 

The oxidative dimerization of the anion of methyl phenyl sulfone (from a Grignard reagent) in ethereal solution in the presence of cupric chloride in 5% yield has been reported47. Despite the reported48 poor stability of the a-sulfonyl C-centered radicals, Julia and coworkers49 provoked the dimerization (in 13 to 56% yields) of the lithiated carbanion of alkyl phenyl sulfones using cupric salts as oxidants. The best results are obtained with cupric triflates in THF-isobutyronitrile medium (56% yield for R = H). For allyl phenyl sulfones the coupling in the 3-3 mode is predominant. 

However, Grignard reagents prepared from alkyl bromides or iodides in ether at higher concentrations (0.5-1 M) contain dimers, trimers, and higher polymers, and those prepared from alkyl chlorides in ether at all concentrations are dimeric, so that 24 is in solution, probably in equilibrium with RMgX and R2Mg that is, the complete Schlenk equilibrium seems to be present. 

A number of Grignard reagents have been subjected to X-ray structure determination.23 Ethylmagnesium bromide has been observed in both monomeric and dimeric forms in crystal structures.24 Figures 7.1a and b show, respectively, the crystal structure... 

A very interesting study of the reaction of methyl Grignard reagents with homoleptic imido complexes of Tc(VI) has been performed [104]. Reduction of 91 with Na in THF gave the first homoleptic Tc(VI)-imido complex [Tc2(N-Ar)6] (Ar = 2,6-dimethylphenyl) [105], Under more vigorous conditions dimerization to the second homoleptic Tc(VI)-imido complex [Tc2(N-Ar)4(/i-N-Ar)2] (94)... 

Determination of the structures of Grignard reagents continues to be of interest, and reviews on this subject have appeared.126,127 Most of the structure authentications are done on crystalline materials, although solution studies performed with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy are also available. The Grignard compounds MeMgBr and EtMgBr in BunzO were studied at room temperature and —85 °C with EXAFS. At both temperatures, dimers are observed (Mg-(/r-Br) = 2.5 A Mg-O = 2.0 A).128... 

Electron-rich olefins are nucleophilic and therefore subject to thermal cleavage by various electrophilic transition metal complexes. As the formation of tetraaminoethylenes, i.e., enetetramines, is possible by different methods, various precursors to imidazolidin-2-ylidene complexes are readily available. " Dimerization of nonstable NHCs such as imidazolidin-2-ylidenes is one of the routes used to obtain these electron-rich olefins [Eq. (29)]. The existence of an equilibrium between free NHC monomers and the olefinic dimer was proven only recently for benzimidazolin-2-ylidenes. In addition to the previously mentioned methods it is possible to deprotonate imidazolidinium salts with Grignard reagents in order to prepare tetraaminoethylenes. " The isolation of stable imidazolidin-2-ylidenes was achieved by deprotonation of the imidazolidinium salt with potassium hydride in THF. ... 

Reaction of amidoximes with dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of Ru3(CO)i2 afforded pyrimidine derivatives" . Reaction of oximes of type RCH=CMeC(=NOH)Me with R NCN also leads to pyrimidines" . a-Halo- and dihaloketoximes and Grignard reagents undergo dimerization to 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyrimidines" " For example. 

A new approach to this synthesis category involves the dimerization of halogenated oxime ethers 705 by reaction with Grignard reagents, where the C-2 atom of the product 706 arises from a rearrangement that is proposed to proceed via azirene intermediates <2002JA9032, 2004CL122>. 

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