The Grignard Synthesis: The Action of Phenyl Mag- 

 nesium Bromide on Caimphor.* — By H. Jermain 

 M. .Creighton, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N. S. 



(Read April 9th, 19i)6.) 



As is well known, the organo-metallic compounds have long 

 been used in a great many organic syntheses, as for instance, in 

 the s^Tithesis of the hydrocarbons and the ketones, to take two 

 examples at random. In all these reactions the yields have 

 always been small, and most of the methods complicated, round- 

 about and unsatisfactory. 



By means of the so-called " Grignard reaction " these dif- 

 ficulties have been done aw'ay with, the syntheses of a great 

 many compounds effected, and many new compounds 

 prepared. 



Compounds of the hydrocarbons with magnesium have long 

 been known, but it was not until recently (1900) that Grig- 

 nard investigated their action toward different organic com- 

 pounds. 



Grignard found that when methyl iodide was allowed to 

 react with many organic compounds in the presence of mag- 

 nesium, a vigorous reaction took place and a new compound 

 was formed. When the air was 'not exchided the mixture took 

 fire. He saw from the variety of ways in which the reaction 

 could be employed that magnesium w^as likely to make the com- 

 pounds of zinc and sodium with organic radicles of secondary 

 importance in organic syntheses. Moreover, the reaction should 

 be expected to be more complete with magnesium than with 

 zi'nc, because magnesium is much more electro positive. 



It has been found when an organo-magnesium halide is 

 allowed to act on an aldehyde, or ketone, and the reaction pro- 



* Contributions from the Science Laboratories of Dalhousie University (Chemistry). 



(593) 



