High School

(b) Write down a chemical reaction to prepare ethyl magnesium bromide from chloroethane.

(c) What precaution must be taken during the synthesis of Grignard's reagent?

(d) Explain why Grignard's reagents are highly effective as starting materials for the synthesis of organic compounds.

Answer :

Final answer:

Ethyl magnesium bromide is prepared from chloroethane through a reaction with magnesium under anhydrous conditions. Precautions during synthesis include maintaining anhydrous conditions and using dry solvents to prevent unwanted reactions. Grignard reagents are powerful nucleophiles valuable for synthesizing a variety of organic compounds.


Explanation:

Preparation of Ethyl Magnesium Bromide from Chloroethane

The preparation of ethyl magnesium bromide (C2H5MgBr), a type of Grignard reagent, can be achieved using a chemical reaction with chloroethane (C2H5Cl). The reaction can be represented as follows:

C2H5Cl + Mg → C2H5MgBr + MgBrCl

In this reaction, magnesium (Mg) is reacted with chloroethane in an anhydrous ether solvent to produce ethyl magnesium bromide along with a byproduct of magnesium bromide chloride.

Precautions During Synthesis of Grignard's Reagent

When synthesizing Grignard reagents, several precautions must be taken:

  • Anhydrous Conditions: The reaction must be conducted in an anhydrous environment because Grignard reagents react violently with water, leading to the generation of hydrocarbons and thus depleting the desired reagent.
  • Use of Dry Solvents: Only dry solvents, typically diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran (THF), should be used as they can stabilize the Grignard reagent.
  • Inert Atmosphere: Performing the reaction under an inert atmosphere (like nitrogen or argon) is often crucial to avoid reactions with atmospheric moisture and oxygen.

Effectiveness of Grignard's Reagent

Grignard reagents are highly effective as starting materials for the synthesis of various organic compounds. They act as strong nucleophiles and can react with numerous electrophiles to form new carbon-carbon bonds. For example, they can react with carbonyl compounds, esters, and alkyl halides, allowing chemists to construct complex organic molecules with precision.


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