Magnesium organic synthesis

These metals are all produced by electrolysis of a mixture of molten metal chlorides the electrolyte composition is selected to minimize the process temperature and to ensure that it is the desired metal that is discharged at the cathode. The estimated annual world production of sodium and magnesium is a few hundred thousand tons while that for lithium is only a few thousand tons. The major uses are (a) sodium-manufacture of lead alkyls, isolation of titanium metal, production of several organic and inorganic substances (b) magnesium-organic synthesis, metal alloys (c) lithium - polymer initiation, organic synthesis and batteries. 

Uses and Economic Aspects. Magnesium bromide is used in medicine as a sedative in treatment of nervous disorders, in electrolyte paste for magnesium dry cells, and as a reagent in organic synthesis reactions. The price of magnesium bromide hexahydrate in January 1995 was 5.51/kg (33). 

Used industrially as a catalyst in organic synthesis, to protect molten magnesium and its alloys from oxidation, as a flux for soldering magnesium manufacture of specialty electronics as a fumigant and in ionization chambers for detection of weak neutrons. 

Uses Preparation of phenyl magnesium bromide used in organic synthesis solvent for fats, waxes, and oils motor oil additive crystallizing solvent chemical intermediate. 

Abstract. Grignard reactions are of utmost importance in organic synthesis (Lee, 2005), and finding the prime conditions under which to conduct these reactions is really crucial to their usefulness. This work looks at the effects of time, and temperature on yield in the reaction of isopropyl magnesium bromide with 4-methoxyben-zaldehyde to produce l-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropan-l-ol. The reaction was first run for 10 min at 25, 50, 75, and 80 °C. Next it was run at 80 °C for 10, 20, and 30 min (see Methods section for more details). Highest yields (85%) were obtained at 80 °C with 10-20 min reaction times. Utilizing conditions that optimize yields will improve the economic practicality of these reactions, and increase their usefulness as a synthetic tool. 

Magnesium bromide occurs in sea water, surface and subterranean brines, and salt deposits. It is an electrolyte component in certain dry cells. In medicine, it is a sedative and anticonvulsant for treatment of nervous disorder. It also is used in organic synthesis forming several addition compounds. 

Magnesium iodide has few commercial apphcations. The salt is used to prepare several addition compounds with organic solvents, some of which are used in organic synthesis. 

P. Knochel, A. Krasovskiy and I. Sapountzis, Polyfunctional magnesium organometalhcs for organic synthesis . Chapter 4, in Handbook of Functionalized Organometallics (Ed. P. Knochel.), Wiley-VCH, 2005. 

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