Grignard reagents reaction mechanism

Method 2. Equip a 1 htre thre necked flask with a double surface reflux condenser, a mechanical stirrer and a separatory funnel, and place 12 -2 g. of dry magnesium turnings, a crystal of iodine, 50 ml. of sodium-dried ether and 7-5 g. (5 ml.) of a-bromonaphthalene (Section IV,20) in the flask. If the reaction does not start immediately, reflux gently on a water bath until it does remove the water bath. Stir the mixture, and add a solution of 96 g. (65 ml.) of a-bromonaphthalene in 250 ml. of anhydrous ether from the separatory funnel at such a rate that the reaction is vmder control (1 -5-2 hours). Place a water bath under the flask and continue the stirring and refluxing for a further 30 minutes. The Grignard reagent collects as a heavy oil in the bottom of the flask ... 

The aforementioned mechanism is supported by the following experimental data. When oxime 13 was treated with Grignard reagent, 3% of the indole 15 was isolated, indicating the possible existence of nitrene intermediate 14. A 2-phenylazirine intermediate, on the other hand, has been isolated and characterized from the reaction under carefully controlled conditions (adding Grignard reagent to the oxime in toluene). ... 

Grignard reagents with LiAlUt. Evidently, the R would be hydride in this case. The mechanism is strikingly similar to that of the Hoch-Campbell reaction except the azirine is attacked by hydride rather than the Grignard reagent. 

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 mechanism of this Grignard reaction is similar to that of L1AIH4 reduction. The first equivalent of Grignard reagent adds to the acid chloride, loss of (T from the tetrahedral intermediate yields a ketone, and a second equivalent of Grignard reagent immediately adds to the ketone to produce an alcohol. 

Conversion of Esters into Alcohols Grignard Reaction Esters and lactones react with 2 equivalents of a Grignard reagent to yield a tertiary alcohol in which two of the substituents are identical (Section 17.5). The reaction occurs by the usual nucleophilic substitution mechanism to give an intermediate ketone, which reacts further with the Grignard reagent to yield a tertiary alcohol. 

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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