Abstract:

In this work, the synthesis of Grignard reagent is improved by replacing molecular iodine with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH). Systematic investigations on the influence of DIBAH initiation on the safety of the reaction system and the chemical structure of haloalkanes are performed. It has been demonstrated that the addition of 2 mol% DIBAH (vs. the molar content of haloalkanes) allows the reaction to take place under mild condition (20 ℃), yielding phenyl magnesium bromide and n-butyl magnesium bromide with high efficiency. With the improved safety on modified Grignard reactions, the students could get a deeper understanding on the importance of safety in chemical reactions. In particular, the present work could also help students to pay attention to safety of organic experiments and the dilemmas encountered by practical applications, and better cope with the gap between fundamental research and industrial applications.

Key words: Experimental safety, Grignard reagent, Triphenylmethanol, 2-Methyl-2-hexanol