Return to Contents  Chapter  19: Carboxylic Acids  Ch 19 contents

Carbonation of Grignard Reagents, RMgX, by CO2

reaction of RMgX with CO2
Reaction usually in Et2O or THF followed by H3O+ work-up
Reaction type:  Nucleophilic Addition

Summary

Related Reactions
NUCLEOPHILIC ADDITION OF RMgX TO CARBON DIOXIDE
Step 1:
The nucleophilic C in the Grignard reagent adds to the electrophilic C in the polar carbonyl group, electrons from the C=O move to the electronegative O creating an intermediate magnesium carboxylate complex.
addition of Grignard reagent to an aldehyde
Step 2:
This is the  work-up step, a simple acid/base reaction. Protonation of the carboxylate oxygen creates the carboxylic acid product from the intermediate complex.

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organic chemistry © Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry University of Calgary