grignard reaction: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialized Technical)Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “grignard reaction” mean?
A chemical reaction in which an alkyl- or aryl-magnesium halide (a Grignard reagent) adds to a carbonyl group in an aldehyde, ketone, or ester to form an alcohol after aqueous workup.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical reaction in which an alkyl- or aryl-magnesium halide (a Grignard reagent) adds to a carbonyl group in an aldehyde, ketone, or ester to form an alcohol after aqueous workup.
The reaction forms a carbon-carbon bond and is a fundamental method in organic synthesis for creating complex molecules from simpler ones. Named after the French chemist Victor Grignard (Nobel Prize, 1912).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None in meaning; spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The compound 'Grignard reagent' is equally common in both.
Connotations
Solely a precise technical term with no regional stylistic differences.
Frequency
Used with identical frequency in relevant chemical literature in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “grignard reaction” in a Sentence
The Grignard reaction [verb: provides, yields, affords] [product].[Compound] was synthesised using a Grignard reaction.A Grignard reaction between [reagent] and [carbonyl] gave [alcohol].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grignard reaction” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team Grignarded the ketone to obtain the tertiary alcohol in good yield.
American English
- We need to Grignard that ester to build the carbon skeleton.
adverb
British English
- The compound was prepared Grignard-efficiently on a multigram scale.
American English
- The bond was formed Grignard-style in anhydrous ether.
adjective
British English
- The Grignard-derived product was purified by column chromatography.
American English
- The synthesis features a key Grignard-type addition step.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in organic chemistry textbooks, research papers, and lectures.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Essential term in synthetic organic chemistry, process chemistry, and pharmaceutical R&D labs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grignard reaction”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grignard reaction”
- Misspelling as 'Gringard', 'Grignards reaction', or 'Grignard's reaction' (the possessive is not standard).
- Using uncapitalised 'grignard reaction'.
- Confusing it with the preparation of the Grignard reagent itself.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Grignard reagents are extremely reactive with water (hydrolyse), forming alkanes and magnesium salts, which destroys the reagent.
Not usefully. They act as bases with carboxylic acids, deprotonating them to form carboxylate salts, rather than undergoing the desired nucleophilic addition.
Anhydrous diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran (THF) are typical, as they help stabilise the Grignard reagent by solvating the magnesium centre.
The French chemist Victor Grignard, who reported it in 1900 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1912 for this work.
A chemical reaction in which an alkyl- or aryl-magnesium halide (a Grignard reagent) adds to a carbonyl group in an aldehyde, ketone, or ester to form an alcohol after aqueous workup.
Grignard reaction is usually technical/academic in register.
Grignard reaction: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡriːnjɑːr riˌæk.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡriːnˈjɑːr riˈæk.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GRIGNARD: Great Reaction Installs New Groups After Rapid (carbonyl) Demolition.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MAGNETIC COUPLE: The Grignard reagent (nucleophile) is strongly 'attracted' to and 'mates' with the electrophilic carbonyl carbon, forming a new bond.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a Grignard reaction in synthetic chemistry?