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How do Grignard Reagents React with Alcohols

Answer:

The Grignard reagent is an organometallic chemical made composed of magnesium atoms linked to a halogen and an alkyl group. R-Mg-X is the general formula for Grignard reagent. It’s used in a variety of experiments to figure out what functional groups unknown substances have.

When haloalkane reacts with magnesium in the presence of vinyl or aryl halides, a very significant organometallic chemical called Grignard reagent is formed:

The following is the mechanism for the creation of Grignard reagents:

Step 1: In haloalkanes, homolytic breakage of the R-X bond occurs.

R-X→R⋅+X⋅ 

Step 2: The halogen radical attacks the magnesium atoms.

X⋅+Mg→⋅MgX 

Step 3: R⋅ attacks the product created in step 2.

R⋅+⋅MgX→R-Mg-X 

Grignard reagent is a strong base and a competent nucleophile, therefore it can react with functional groups like epoxide, ketone, aldehydic, and alcohol. When alcohols combine with Grignard reagent, an acid-base reaction occurs, resulting in the synthesis of magnesium alkoxide and the corresponding alkane. The following is the reaction:

R-OH+R’MgX→R-OMgX+R’-H 

As a result, the Grignard reagent reacts with alcohols to produce alkanes.