Chem Factsheet

www.curriculumpress.co.uk April 2002 Number 31 Organic Chemistry 2: Halogeno-compounds and Grignard Reagents
To succeed in this topic you need to: Have a good understanding of AS-level Organic Chemistry (Factsheets 15, 16, 17 and 27); Be confident in using organic nomenclature and structural formulae. After working through this Factsheet you will: Have reviewed the chemistry of the halogeno-compounds covered so far; Know how Grignard reagents are formed; Know how Grignard reagents are used in a variety of organic preparations. Reactions of Grignard reagents The Grignard reagent is very reactive. H CH 3 C H They contain a - carbon, which gives rise to the extremely reactive R species i.e. in the above example, H CH 3 C H alcohol nucleophilic substitution The R species is a strong nucleophile, which is capable of attacking + carbons in other molecules - hence carbon chain lengths can be increased. 1. Reaction with water to form alkanes RMgI + H2O RH + Mg(OH)I Reaction type: Mechanism: Substitution. Nucleophilic.

Mg

Halogeno-alkanes
Fig 1 below summarises the reactions of the halogeno-alkanes. Fig. 1 Halogenoalkane reactions nitrile nucleophilic substitution
KCN in water/ethanol heat under reflux NaOH(aq)

heat under reflux

Halogenoalkane
NH3 in ethanol heat KOH in ethanol heat under reflux

amine nucleophilic substitution

alkene nucleophilic elimination

This reaction shows why Grignard reagents must be prepared in dry conditions. 2. Reaction with methanal to form primary alcohol. Methanal gas is passed into the solution of the Grignard, and the mixture is then hydrolysed with dilute hydrochloric acid. RMgI + CH2=O RCH2OMgI (Nucleophilic addition)

Grignard Reagents
The main focus of this Factsheet is on the formation and use of a commonly examined set of reagents derived from the halogenoalkanes - Grignard reagents. Preparation of Grignard Reagents Grignard reagents are prepared by refluxing alkyl or aryl bromide or iodide compounds, dissolved in dry ether, with small magnesium turnings. RBr + Mg RMgBr 'Grignard reagent'

Then: RCH2OMgI + H2O RCH2OH + Mg(OH)I (Hydrolysis) Reaction conditions: In dry ether, followed by addition of dilute acid for hydrolysis. 3. Reaction with other aldehydes to form secondary alcohols. R R RMgI + R'CHO CHOMgI R'
H 2O

CHOH + Mg(OH)I R'

The Grignard reagent cannot be isolated - it must remain in etheral solution for further reaction. Example of Grignard reagent preparation: C2H5I + Mg C2H5MgI Reaction type: Conditions: Addition Dry ether solvent Reflux Trace of iodine as catalyst

Reaction conditions: In dry ether, followed by addition of dilute acid for hydrolysis. For example: C 2H 5 CH3 C 2H 5 COH + Mg(OH)I CH3 Butan-2-ol

C2H5MgI + CH3CHO CHOMgI H 2O

Halogeno-compounds and Grigand Reagents

Chem Factsheet
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4. Reaction with ketones to form tertiary alcohols. R1 R1

H C H

Br H C H H C H C H Cl C H Cl C H H H H

RMgI +

R2

C=O RCOMgI R2

H 2O

RCOH + Mg(OH)I R2 (b) H

H C H

Reaction conditions: In dry ether, followed by addition of dilute acid for hydrolysis. For example: C2H5 CH3MgI + C=O C3H 7 C2H5 CH3COMgI C 3H 7 H 2O C2H5 CH3COH + Mg(OH)I C 3H 7 (c)

H H C H

H C H

H H C H

C C H

H Br C Br

Cl C H H

2. Because they contain a very unstable - carbon atom, an extremely strong nucleophile. 3. CH3I should be dissolved in dry ether Magnesium turnings added Iodine catalyst Heat under reflux 4. (a) CH3CH2CH2I Conditions: + Mg CH3CH2CH2MgI

5. Reactions of Grignard with carbon dioxide to form carboxylic acid. Carbon dioxide is bubbled through (or solid CO2, dry ice, is added to) an etheral solution of a Grignard reagent. RMgI + CO2 RCOMgI O
H 2O

Reflux in ether Iodine catalyst

RCOH + Mg(OH)I O

(b) CH3CH2CH2MgI + CO2 + H2O CH3CH2CH2COOH + Mg(OH)I Conditions: 5. (a) CH3CH2Br Conditions: Addition of CO2 in dry ether, then dilute acid for hydrolysis + Mg CH3CH2MgBr

Reaction conditions: In dry ether, followed by addition of dilute acid for hydrolysis. Questions 1. Write the structural formulae of the following compounds: (a) 2-bromopropane (b) 1,2-dichlorobutane (c) 2,2-dibromo-1-chloro-3-methylhexane 2. Explain why Grignard reagents are very reactive. 3. Explain clearly how the Grignard reagent CH3MgI would be formed from CH3I. 4. This question relates to the following reaction scheme: CH3CH2CH2I
step 1

Reflux in ether Iodine catalyst

(b) CH3CH2CH2MgI + CH3CHO + H2O CH3CH2CHOHCH3 + Mg(OH)Br Conditions: Dissolved in dry ether, then dilute acid for hydrolysis.

CH3CH2CH2MgI

step 2

CH3CH2CH2COOH

Give the reaction equations and conditions for: (a) Step 1. (b) Step 2. 5. This question relates to the following reaction scheme: CH3CH2Br
step 1

CH3CH2MgBr

step 2

CH3CH2CHOHCH3

Give the reaction equations and conditions for: (a) Step 1. (b) Step 2.

Acknowledgements: This Factsheet was researched and written by Sam Goodman and Kieron Heath. Curriculum Press, Unit 305B, The Big Peg, 120 Vyse Street, Birmingham, B18 6NF. ChemistryFactsheets may be copied free of charge by teaching staff or students, provided that their school is a registered subscriber. No part of these Factsheets may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any other form or by any other means, without the prior permission of the publisher. ISSN 1351-5136