Overview

Grignard reagents, RMgX, were discovered roughly a hundred years ago, yet they are still regarded as one of the most useful carbon nucleophiles. A wide range of Grignard reagents can be prepared and these reagents react with a wide range of carbon electrophiles to make new carbon-carbon bonds.

In this experiment, you will attempt to generate a Grignard reagent from an unknown bromoarene, ArBr, and then convert this reagent into an aromatic carboxylic acid, ArCO₂H, by combining the reagent with solid CO₂ (dry ice).