Skip to Content
Merck
HomeProductsChemistry & BiochemicalsChemical SynthesisGrignard Reagents

Grignard Reagents

Common organic reactions using Grignard Reagents

Grignard reagents are highly reactive organomagnesium halides formed by the reaction of magnesium metal with alkyl or alkenyl halides. They are very strong bases and react with acidic hydrogens such as alcohols, water and carboxylic acids. Our comprehensive portfolio of Grignard reagents, used in the Grignard reaction to form new carbon-carbon bonds, will make your breakthroughs feel closer than ever.  

What is a Grignard reagent?

A Grignard reagent is an organomagnesium halide having a formula of RMgX, where X is a halogen (-Cl, -Br, or -I), and R is an alkyl or aryl (based on a benzene ring) group. To initiate a Grignard Reaction, a Grignard reagent is added to a ketone or aldehyde, to form a tertiary or secondary alcohol. The reaction with formaldehyde leads to a primary alcohol. 

Grignard reagents can be used for determining the number of halogen atoms present in a halogen compound. Grignard degradation is used for the chemical analysis of certain triacylglycerols as well as many cross-coupling reactions for the formation of several carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Industrially, the Grignard reaction is the key step in the production of Tamoxifen, which is used in the treatment of breast cancer.

Making a Grignard reagent

Grignard reagents are produced from the heated combination of halogenoalkane and magnesium in the presence of diethyl ether (ethoxyethane). The reaction should be kept dry to avoid the resulting Grignard reagent from reacting with water.

Related Resources

Related Product Categories
Organic Building Blocks
Find the basic components needed to drive your research forward in our portfolio of organic building blocks. Alkenesm alkanes, alkynes, arenes, allenes & more!
Olefin Metathesis
Explore our exceptional portfolio of olefin metathesis catalysts and take advantage of Grubbs’ technical expertise to advance your research and breakthrough synthesis ideas.
Phosphine Ligands
Explore a wide array of phosphine ligands for cross-coupling reactions and diverse applications.
C-C Bond Forming Reagents
With our portfolio of carbon-carbon bond-forming reagents, your breakthroughs in fundamental carbon-carbon bond formation coupling reactions will feel closer than ever.
Related Applications
C–H Functionalization
C–H functionalization is the reliable and predictable conversion of a C–H into a C–C, C–N, C–O, or C–X bond in a selective and controlled fashion.
Cross-Coupling
Cross-coupling is a common reaction in organic chemistry for the creation of C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds with the aid of a metal catalyst.
Fluorination
Fluorination is the introduction of fluorine to a compound via electrophilic fluorination, nucleophilic fluorination, difluoromethylation, trifluoromethylation, or perfluoroalkylation.
Metathesis
Olefin metathesis involves an organic reaction that redistributes fragments of alkenes (olefins) by cleavage and transformation of carbon-carbon double bonds.
Organic Reaction Toolbox
An organic reaction toolbox provides structure-activity relationships for unique chemical reactions to optimally design and control small molecule synthesis.
Photocatalysis
Photoredox catalysis utilizes photocatalysts in the presence of visible light to form an array of synthetic transformations including, but not limited to, cross-coupling, C-H functionalization, alkene and arene functionalization, and trifluoromethylation.
RELATED SERVICES
Bulk and Custom Services
We offer an extensive, reliable supply of production materials in bench to bulk volumes. Our custom services include quality control, testing, documentation services, chemical packaging, contract manufacturing according to your specifications.
SYNTHIA™ Retrosynthesis Software
Our custom cell culture product design experts can offer advice and support as you scale your bioprocess from clinical to commercial supply, assisting with liquid products, dry powder products, selection of raw materials, quality testing, flexible product packaging, and product documentation.
Sign In To Continue

To continue reading please sign in or create an account.

Don't Have An Account?