Problems and exercisesOrganometallic Reagents

1. Prepare the reagents

1. Ethylmagnesium bromide from bromoethane.
2. Butyllithium from 1-bromobutane.

2. A drop of water

What happens if ethylmagnesium bromide comes into contact with water? Why must one work under anhydrous conditions?

3. Synthesis of alcohols

Which alcohol is obtained by treating CH₃MgBr with each compound and then with H₃O⁺?

1. Formaldehyde
2. Acetaldehyde
3. Acetone

4. An impossible reagent

Why can a Grignard reagent not be prepared from 2-bromoethanol, HOCH₂CH₂Br?