Grignard reagent

Grignard reagents or Grignard compounds are <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compounds</a> with the general formula R−Mg−X, where X is a <a href="/facts/Halogen/YeFgWHeA">halogen</a> and R is an organic <a href="/facts/Functional_group/GXkSPsjM">group</a>, normally an <a href="/facts/Alkyl/vmEk8X4v">alkyl</a> or <a href="/facts/Aryl/M3z7QRXd">aryl</a>. Two typical examples are <a href="/facts/Methylmagnesium_chloride/fpqQ5eBV">methylmagnesium chloride</a> Cl−Mg−CH3 and <a href="/facts/Phenylmagnesium_bromide/lx5S0Jl6">phenylmagnesium bromide</a> (C6H5)−Mg−Br. They are a subclass of the <a href="/facts/Organomagnesium_compound/HBe5FuvD">organomagnesium compounds</a>.
Grignard compounds are popular reagents in <a href="/facts/Organic_synthesis/aprl6Iq7">organic synthesis</a> for creating new <a href="/facts/Carbon%25E2%2580%2593carbon_bond/nLE4z5BK">carbon–carbon bonds</a>. For example, when reacted with another halogenated compound R'−X' in the presence of a suitable <a href="/facts/Catalysis/LPBS7TQC">catalyst</a>, they typically yield R−R' and the magnesium halide MgXX' as a byproduct; and the latter is insoluble in the solvents normally used.
Grignard reagents are rarely isolated as solids. Instead, they are normally handled as solutions in solvents such as <a href="/facts/Diethyl_ether/Ep20vEdj">diethyl ether</a> or <a href="/facts/Tetrahydrofuran/P5t6SkMK">tetrahydrofuran</a> using <a href="/facts/Air-free_technique/pEW9wY6e">air-free techniques</a>. Grignard reagents are <a href="/facts/Coordination_complex/1tCyeQUm">complex</a> with the magnesium atom bonded to two <a href="/facts/Ether/jwDg0IKr">ether</a> <a href="/facts/Ligand/6etB3qeW">ligands</a> as well as the halide and organyl ligands.
The discovery of the <a href="/facts/Grignard_reaction/DfhXQ6SG">Grignard reaction</a> in 1900 was recognized with the Nobel Prize awarded to <a href="/facts/Victor_Grignard/3Wc9h0vW">Victor Grignard</a> in 1912.

Grignard reagent open-in-new

Grignard reagent