Convenient Preparation of Polyfunctional Aryl Magnesium Reagents by a Direct Magnesium Insertion in the Presence of LiCl

Abstract

In the footsteps of Victor Grignard: The simple LiCl-mediated insertion of magnesium into aryl chlorides and bromides at moderate temperatures leads to functionalized organomagnesium reagents (see scheme). An unprecedented range of functional groups may be present in the substrates (e.g. CN, CO2R, OTs, OBoc; Ts=p-toluenesulfonyl, Boc=tert-butylcarbonyloxy).