Studies on Radical Formation

A few years after the publication of Kharasch and Reinmuth s text, more systematic studies on radical formation during the reaction of an organic halide with magnesium were started. 

Use of a Radical Scavenger 1958. The reaction of 1-iodobutane with magnesium in 1-methyl-1-phenylethane was investigated [23] this solvent also functions as a radical scavenger, and from the products so observed conclusions were drawn regarding the formation of radicals in various reaction steps. 

Neophyl Radicals 1962. A few years later, the reaction of neophyl chloride (I) with magnesium was studied [24] in diethyl ether. 

Analysis of the products found in the reaction mixture led the authors to the conclusion that their results per exclusionem speak for the occurrence of neophyl radicals and their rearrangement. 

In the first step of the reaction (Initiation) an electron is transferred from the metal to the adsorbed halide molecule thus generating a phenyl radical and a bromine anion  

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