Question

How do Grignard reagents react with alcohols?

Answer 1

A Grignard reagent is an organomagnesium compound which can be described by the chemical formula ‘R-Mg-X’ where R refers to an alkyl or aryl group and X refers to a halogen. Grignard reagents are known for their ability to quickly target carbonyls at their carbon level.When a solution of an alkyl halide in dry diethyl ether is allowed to react with Mg the resulting solution obtained is called Grignard reagent.

Complete step by step answer:
Grignard Reagent named after victor Grignard – a nobel laureate in $1912$for this discovery.
It is used in wide areas as the starting material of the preparation of so many organic compounds. It general formula is $RMgX$ (R can be aryl or alkyl)
$\text{RMgX}+{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}\text{O}\,\to \text{RH}+\text{Mg}(x)\text{OH}$
Grignard Reagents react rapidly with acidic hydrogen atoms in molecules such as alcohol and water.
$\text{R}\text{MgX}+\text{HO}\text{{R}'}\to \text{R}\text{H}+X\text{MgO{R}'}$
When alcohol reacts with Grignard it gives magnesium alkoxide and the alkane or alkyl halide which was used to make the Grignard.

Grignard Reagents exhibit strong nucleophilic qualities and also have the ability to form new carbon-carbon bonds.
They are similar to organolithium reagents.
Grignard reagents do not function in the presence of protic solvents. Instead of reacting with the desired molecule, the Grignard is so unstable that it can readily accept a proton from a protic solvent. The Grignard then is inert and there is no reaction to the desired molecule.

Note: Grignard reagents are formed by the reaction of magnesium metal with alkyl or alkyl halides. They are wonderful Nucleophiles reacting with carbonyl compounds
Grignard reagents (RMgX) are commonly used for organic synthesis. However, these highly reactive compounds are supplied in flammable ,solvents which cause extra complexity in their transport. Herein we note that Grignard reagents with linear alkyl chains can be trapped and stabilized by the macrocyclic host pillar arene while retaining their reactivity.