Learning objectives for this activity

CH3MgBr

Grignard reagents are organometallic compounds involving magnesium. An example of a Grignard reagent is shown at the right. These are a source of a carbanion and react with carbon electrophiles to form a new carbon-carbon bond.  These reactions are one way of extending a carbon chain. 

After completing the exercises in this activity you should be able to

• justify the reactivity of Grignard reagents on the basis of the relative polarities of the bonds in these reagents
   
• predict the type of product that will arise from reaction of a Grignard reagent with a particular type of compound (limited to reactions with aldehydes, ketones, carbon dioxide, oxirane and water)
   
• choose the appropriate Grignard reagent and carbonyl compound for preparation of a given compound including more than one possible pair if appropriate for a given system (limited to reactions of Grignard reagents with aldehydes, ketones, carbon dioxide, oxirane and water)