PREPARATIVE HAZARDS Magnesium

The flammability and explosive hazard of ferrosilicon powder is increased substantially during grinding in a vibratory mill [1], Explosion hazards from air-hydrogen,—acetylene, or—propane mixtures formed during preparation of ferrosilicon containing alkaline earth additives are attributed to contact of barium or magnesium carbide or silicide additive with atmospheric moisture [2],... 

A solution of pentachlorophenylmagnesium chloride" is prepared from hexachlorobenzene (66 g, 0.23 mol) and magnesium (8.44 g, 0.35 mol) in a mixture of THF (150 ml) and benzene (150 ml) (HAZARD toluene would be preferable). The solution is heated to reflux, and ethyl formate (40 ml, excess) is added by syringe at such a rate that the exothermic reaction maintains refluxing. The mixture is stirred as it is allowed to cool to room temperature during 1 h. Methanol (20 ml) is added, and the solvents are evaporated. The resulting dark-brown residue is washed with hydrochloric acid, methanol and ethyl acetate, and then recrystallized from 4 1 toluene-pyridine, to give bis(pentachlorophenyl)methanol (35 g, 29%). 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with aluminium, antacids, anticoagulants, bismuth, calcium, diuretics, iron preparations, magnesium, oral contraceptives, oral retinoids, quinapril... 

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