Methylmagnesium bromide | CH₃MgBr

CH₃MgBr (Methylmagnesium bromide) is a grignard reagent and is used to extend carbon chain of organic compounds. Preparation of CH₃MgBr from CH₃OH and CH₃Br.

---

Preparation of CH₃MgBr

CH₃MgBr can be prepared by CH₃Br (methyl bromide). Add magnesium metal in the presence of dry ether to CH₃Br. Methyl bromide should dissolve in dry ether.

Dry ether is essential because dry medium is a must. Grignard is highly unstable in water and hydrolysis easily.

CH₃Br (in dry ether) + Mg → CH₃MgBr

---

Prepare CH₃MgBr by methanol

You should prepare methyl bromide from methanol. This can be done adding PBr₃ to methanol.

---

Physical and chemical properties of CH₃MgBr

When CH₃MgBr is in with dry ether, it exists as a solution.

May form explosive peroxides and reacts violently with water.

---

CH₃MgBr reactions

CH₃MgBr is used to extend carbon chain. As products, ethane, ethanol, ethanoic acid and many chemicals can be produced from CH₃MgBr. In this tutorial, we will look several reactions of methylmagnesium bromide.

CH₃MgBr and HCHO reaction

Ethanol is given as the product.

Methylmagnesium bromide and water reaction

methylmagnesium bromide (CH₃MgBr) reacts violently with water and produce methane (an alkane).

---

Related tutorials