CHAPTER 14
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
SOLUTIONS TO TEXT PROBLEMS
14.1 (b) Magnesium bears a cyclohexyl substituent and a chlorine. Chlorine is named as an anion. The
compound is cyclohexylmagnesium chloride.
14.2 (b) The alkyl bromide precursor to sec-butyllithium must be sec-butyl bromide.
14.3 (b) Allyl chloride is converted to allylmagnesium chloride on reaction with magnesium.
(c) The carbon–iodine bond of iodocyclobutane is replaced by a carbon–magnesium bond in the
Grignard reagent.
Mg
diethyl ether
Iodocyclobutane
I
Cyclobutylmagnesium
iodide
MgI
Allyl chloride
CHCH
2
ClH
2
C
Allylmagnesium chloride
CHCH
2
MgClH
2
C
Mg
diethyl ether
2LiH11001 LiBrH11001CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
3
Br
2-Bromobutane
(sec-butyl bromide)
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
3
Li
1-Methylpropyllithium
(sec-butyllithium)
342
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(d) Bromine is attached to an sp
2
-hybridized carbon in 1-bromocyclohexene. The product of its
reaction with magnesium has a carbon–magnesium bond in place of the carbon–bromine
bond.
14.4 (b) 1-Hexanol will protonate butyllithium because its hydroxyl group is a proton donor only
slightly less acidic than water. This proton-transfer reaction could be used to prepare lithium
1-hexanolate.
(c) The proton donor here is benzenethiol.
14.5 (b) Propylmagnesium bromide reacts with benzaldehyde by addition to the carbonyl group.
(c) Tertiary alcohols result from the reaction of Grignard reagents and ketones.
(d) The starting material is a ketone and so reacts with a Grignard reagent to give a tertiary
alcohol.
diethyl ether H
3
O
H11001
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
H
3
C C OMgBr
CH
3
CH
2
3-Methyl-3-hexanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COH
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
O
CH
3
CH
2
C
H
3
C
Propylmagnesium bromide
H11001 2-butanone
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
H11001CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr O
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
OH
1-Propylcyclohexanol
diethyl ether H
3
O
H11001
C
6
H
5
CO
H
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
C
6
H
5
C OMgBr
H
1-Phenyl-1-butanol
C
6
H
5
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
H11001H11001C
6
H
5
SH
Benzenethiol
C
6
H
5
SLi
Lithium
benzenethiolate
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Li
Butyllithium
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
Butane
H11001H11001CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-Hexanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OLi
Lithium 1-hexanolate
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Li
Butyllithium
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
Butane
Mg
diethyl ether
1-Bromocyclohexene
Br
1-Cyclohexenylmagnesium
bromide
MgBr
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 343
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344 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
14.6 Ethyl anion reacts as a Br?nsted base to remove a proton from the alkyne. The proton at C-1 is
removed because it is the most acidic, having a pK
a
of approximately 25.
14.7 (b) The target alcohol is tertiary and so is prepared by addition of a Grignard reagent to a ketone.
The retrosynthetic transformations are:
Because two of the alkyl groups on the hydroxyl-bearing carbon are the same (methyl), only
two, not three,different ketones are possible starting materials:
14.8 (b) Recall that the two identical groups bonded to the hydroxyl-bearing carbon of the alcohol
arose from the Grignard reagent. That leads to the following retrosynthetic analysis:
Thus, the two phenyl substituents arise by addition of a phenyl Grignard reagent to an ester of
cyclopropanecarboxylic acid.
14.9 (b) Of the three methyl groups of 1,3,3-trimethylcyclopentene, only the one connected to the
double bond can be attached by way of an organocuprate reagent. Attachment of either of
H11001H11001
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
(C
6
H
5
)
2
C
OH
Cyclopropyl-
diphenylmethanol
CH
3
OH
Methanol
O
COCH
3
Methyl
cyclopropanecarboxylate
2C
6
H
5
MgBr
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
(C
6
H
5
)
2
C
OH O
COR 2C
6
H
5
MgXH11001
MgBr H11001 CH
3
CCH
3
O
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
Acetone
CCH
3
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
OH
CH
3
2-Phenyl-2-propanol
CCH
3
CH
3
MgI CCH
3
H11001
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
OHO
CH
3
Methylmagnesium
iodide
Acetophenone 2-Phenyl-2-propanol
H11001H11001CH
3
H11002
C
O
CH
3
C
OH
CH
3
CH
3
H11002
CH
3
CCH
3
O
H11001H11001CH
3
CH
3
Ethane1-Hexyne
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
HC
Ethyl anion
CH
3
CH
2
H11002
Conjugate base of 1-hexyne
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
C
H11002
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the other methyls would involve a tertiary carbon, a process that does not occur very
efficiently.
14.10 (b) Methylenecyclobutane is the appropriate precursor to the spirohexane shown.
14.11 Syn addition of dibromocarbene to cis-2-butene yields a cyclopropane derivative in which the
methyl groups are cis.
Conversely, the methyl groups in the cyclopropane derivative of trans-2-butene are trans to one
another.
14.12 Iron has an atomic number of 26 and an electron configuration of [Ar]4s
2
3d
6
. Thus, it has 8 valence
electrons and requires 10 more to satisfy the 18-electron rule. Five CO ligands, each providing two
electrons, are therefore needed. The compound is Fe(CO)
5
.
14.13 (a) Cyclopentyllithium is
It has a carbon–lithium bond. It satisfies the requirement for classification as an organo-
metallic compound.
(b) Ethoxymagnesium chloride does not have a carbon–metal bond. It is not an organometallic
compound.
(c) 2-Phenylethylmagnesium iodide is an example of a Grignard reagent. It is an organometallic
compound.
CH
2
CH
2
MgI
CH
3
CH
2
OMgCl CH
3
CH
2
O
H11002
Mg
2H11001
Cl
H11002
or
HLi
CC
H
H
3
C
CH
3
H
trans-2-Butene trans-1,1-Dibromo-2,3-
dimethylcyclopropane
CHBr
3
KOC(CH
3
)
3
H
3
C
CH
3
BrBr
H
H
CC
H
H
3
H
3
H
cis-2-Butene cis-1,1-Dibromo-2,3-
dimethylcyclopropane
H
3
CCH
3
BrBr
HH
CHBr
3
KOC(CH
3
)
3
CH
2
I
2
Zn(Cu), ether
CH
2
Methylenecyclobutane Spiro[3.2]hexane (22%)
H11001LiCu(CH
3
)
2
diethyl ether
1,3,3-Trimethylcyclopentene1-Bromo-3,3-
dimethylcyclopentene
Lithium
dimethylcuprate
CH
3
CH
3
Br H
3
C
CH
3
CH
3
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 345
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(d) Lithium divinylcuprate has two vinyl groups bonded to copper. It is an organometallic
compound.
(e) Sodium carbonate, Na
2
CO
3
can be represented by the Lewis structure.
There is no carbon–metal bond, and sodium carbonate is not an organometallic compound.
( f ) Benzylpotassium is represented as
It has a carbon–potassium bond and thus is an organometallic compound.
14.14 The two alkyl groups attached to aluminum in [(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
]
2
AlH are isobutyl groups. The hy-
drogen bonded to aluminum is named in a separate word as hydride. Thus, “dibal” is a shortened
form of the systematic name diisobutylaluminum hydride.
14.15 (a) Grignard reagents such as pentylmagnesium iodide are prepared by reaction of magnesium
with the corresponding alkyl halide.
(b) Acetylenic Grignard reagents are normally prepared by reaction of a terminal alkyne with a
readily available Grignard reagent such as an ethylmagnesium halide. The reaction that takes
place is an acid–base reaction in which the terminal alkyne acts as a proton donor.
(c) Alkyllithiums are formed by reaction of lithium with an alkyl halide.
(d) Lithium dialkylcuprates arise by the reaction of an alkyllithium with a Cu(I) salt.
14.16 The polarity of a covalent bond increases with an increase in the electronegativity difference be-
tween the connected atoms. Carbon has an electronegativity of 2.5 (Table 14.1). Metals are less elec-
tronegative than carbon. When comparing two metals, the less electronegative one therefore has the
more polar bond to carbon.
(a) Table 14.1 gives the electronegativity of lithium as 1.0, whereas that for aluminum is 1.5. The
carbon–lithium bond in CH
3
CH
2
Li is more polar than the carbon–aluminum bond in
(CH
3
CH
2
)
3
Al.
H11001 CuX
(X H11005 Cl, Br, or I)Pentyllithium, from part (c)
2CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Li H11001 LiX
Lithium dipentylcuprate
LiCu(CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
)
2
H11001 2Li
1-Halopentane
(X H11005 Cl, Br, or I)
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
X H11001 LiX
Pentyllithium
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Li
H11001
diethyl ether
CH
3
CH
2
MgI
Ethylmagnesium
iodide
H11001 CH
3
CH
3
Ethane1-Butyne
CH
3
CH
2
CCH
1-Butynylmagnesium
iodide
CH
3
CH
2
CCMgI
MgH11001
diethyl ether
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
I
1-Iodopentane
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgI
Pentylmagnesium iodide
orCH
2
K CH
2
K
H11001
H11002
Na
H11001
CO O
O
H11002 H11002
Na
H11001
Li
H11001
(H
2
C CH CH
2
)Cu CH
H11002
346 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
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(b) The electronegativity of magnesium (1.2) is less than that of zinc (1.6). (CH
3
)
2
Mg therefore
has a more polar carbon–metal bond than (CH
3
)
2
Zn.
(c) In this part of the problem two Grignard reagents are compared. Magnesium is the metal in
both cases. The difference is the hybridization state of carbon. The sp-hybridized carbon in
HC>CMgBr is more electronegative than the sp
3
-hybridized carbon in CH
3
CH
2
MgBr, and
HC>CMgBr has a more polar carbon–magnesium bond.
14.17 (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
( f )
(g)
(h)
(i)
( j)
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Propyllithium
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Li H11001
1-Butanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OHHCH
O
D
2
O
DCl
Isopropyllithium
CH
3
CHCH
3
Li
2-Deuteriopropane
CH
3
CHCH
3
D
Propylmagnesium
bromide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
1-Deuteriopropane
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
D
D
2
O
DCl
H11001
Lithium dipropylcuprate Iodobenzene Propylbenzene
(CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
)
2
CuLi
I CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
H11001
Heptane
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-BromobutaneLithium dipropylcuprate
(CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
)
2
CuLi
H11001 CuI
Propyllithium
2CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Li
Lithium dipropylcuprate
(CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
)
2
CuLi
H11001
diethyl ether
Mg
2-Iodopropane Isopropylmagnesium
iodide
MgI
CH
3
CHCH
3
CH
3
CHCH
3
I
H11001
diethyl ether
2Li
2-Iodopropane
CH
3
CHCH
3
H11001 LiI
Isopropyllithium
Li
CH
3
CHCH
3
I
H11001
diethyl ether
Mg
1-Bromopropane
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Br
Propylmagnesium bromide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
H11001
diethyl ether
2Li
1-Bromopropane
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Br H11001 LiBr
Propyllithium
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Li
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 347
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(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(p)
(q)
(r)
14.18 In the solutions to this problem, the Grignard reagent butylmagnesium bromide is used. In each case
the use of butyllithium would be equally satisfactory.
1-Pentene
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
H
2
C
CHBr
3
KOC(CH
3
)
3
1,1-Dibromo-2-propylcyclopropane
H CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
H H
BrBr
cis-1-Ethyl-2-hexyl-
cyclopropane
CH
2
I
2
Zn(Cu), diethyl ether
CC
H
CH
3
CH
2
H
(CH
2
)
5
CH
3
(Z)-3-Decene
CH
3
CH
2
(CH
2
)
5
CH
3
H H
trans-1-Heptyl-2-
methylcyclopropane
CH
2
I
2
Zn(Cu), diethyl ether
CC
H
H
3
C
(CH
2
)
6
CH
3
H
(E)-2-Decene
H
3
C H
H (CH
2
)
6
CH
3
CH
2
I
2
1-Octene
Zn(Cu), diethyl ether
1-Cyclopropylhexane
H
2
C
CH
2
CH(CH
2
)
5
CH
3
CH(CH
2
)
5
CH
3
H
2
C
H11001H110012CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
Propylmagnesium
bromide
Methyl benzoate
C
6
H
5
COCH
3
O
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
4-Phenyl-4-heptanol
CH
3
OHC
6
H
5
C(CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
)
2
OH
Methanol
H11001
2-Butanone
CH
3
CCH
2
CH
3
O
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
2,3-Dimethyl-3-pentanol
CH
3
CH CCH
2
CH
3
OH
CH
3
CH
3
Isopropyl-
magnesium iodide
CH
3
CHCH
3
MgI
H11001
Isopropyllithium
CH
3
CHCH
3
Li
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Cycloheptanone
O
1-Isopropylcycloheptanol
OH(CH
3
)
2
CH
H11001
Propylmagnesium
bromide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
Benzaldehyde
CH
O
1-Phenyl-1-butanol
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
OH
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
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(a) 1-Pentanol is a primary alcohol having one more carbon atom than 1-bromobutane. Retrosyn-
thetic analysis suggests the reaction of a Grignard reagent with formaldehyde.
An appropriate synthetic scheme is
(b) 2-Hexanol is a secondary alcohol having two more carbon atoms than 1-bromobutane. As re-
vealed by retrosynthetic analysis, it may be prepared by reaction of ethanal (acetaldehyde)
with butylmagnesium bromide.
The correct reaction sequence is
(c) 1-Phenyl-1-pentanol is a secondary alcohol. Disconnection suggests that it can be prepared
from butylmagnesium bromide and an aldehyde; benzaldehyde is the appropriate aldehyde.
(d) The target molecule 3-methyl-3-heptanol has the structure
C
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
1. ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Benzaldehyde
CH
O
1-Phenyl-1-pentanol
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
Butylmagnesium bromide
H11001
H11001
Butylmagnesium halide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgX
1-Phenyl-1-pentanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
OH
Benzaldehyde
CH
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-Bromobutane Butylmagnesium bromide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
2-Hexanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CHCH
3
OH
Mg
diethyl ether 2. H
3
O
H11001
1. CH
3
CH
O
H11001
2-Hexanol Butylmagnesium halide Ethanal
(acetaldehyde)
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgX CH
3
CH
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CHCH
3
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-Bromobutane
Mg
diethyl ether
Butylmagnesium bromide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-Pentanol
2. H
3
O
H11001
1. HCH
O
H11001CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
1-Pentanol Butylmagnesium halide Formaldehyde
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgX H
2
CCH
2
OH O
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 349
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By retrosynthetically disconnecting the butyl group from the carbon that bears the hydroxyl
substituent, we see that the appropriate starting ketone is 2-butanone.
Therefore
(e) 1-Butylcyclobutanol is a tertiary alcohol. The appropriate ketone is cyclobutanone.
14.19 In each part of this problem in which there is a change in the carbon skeleton, disconnect the phenyl
group of the product to reveal the aldehyde or ketone precursor that reacts with the Grignard reagent
derived from bromobenzene. Recall that reaction of a Grignard reagent with formaldehyde
(H
2
C?O) yields a primary alcohol, reaction with an aldehyde (other than formaldehyde) yields a
secondary alcohol, and reaction with a ketone yields a tertiary alcohol.
(a) Conversion of bromobenzene to benzyl alcohol requires formation of the corresponding
Grignard reagent and its reaction with formaldehyde. Retrosynthetically, this can be seen as
Therefore,
(b) The product is a secondary alcohol and is formed by reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide
with hexanal.
1-Phenyl-1-hexanolHexanal
MgBr
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
H11001 CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
OH
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
O
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Phenylmagnesium
halide
Hexanal
MgX HC(CH
2
)
4
CH
3
1-Phenyl-1-hexanol
H11001
O
CH(CH
2
)
4
CH
3
OH
Br
Bromobenzene Phenylmagnesium
bromide
MgBr
Benzyl alcohol
CH
2
OH
2. H
3
O
H11001
1. HCH
O
Mg
diethyl ether
CH
2
OH MgX H
2
CH11001 O
H11001
Butylmagnesium bromide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
1-Butylcyclobutanol
OH
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
31. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Cyclobutanone
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CCH
2
CH
3
H11001
Butylmagnesium bromide 2-Butanone 3-Methyl-3-heptanol
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
O
OH
CH
3
H11001
Butylmagnesium halide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgXCH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
3
OH
CH
3
2-Butanone
CCH
2
CH
3
CH
3
O
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(c) The desired product is a secondary alkyl bromide. A reasonable synthesis would be to first
prepare the analogous secondary alcohol by reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide with benz-
aldehyde, followed by a conversion of the alcohol to the bromide. Retrosynthetically this can
be seen as
(d) The target molecule is a tertiary alcohol, which requires that phenylmagnesium bromide react
with a ketone. By mentally disconnecting the phenyl group from the carbon that bears the
hydroxyl group, we see that the appropriate ketone is 4-heptanone.
The synthesis is therefore
(e) Reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide with cyclooctanone will give the desired tertiary
alcohol.
( f ) The 1-phenylcyclooctanol prepared in part (e) of this problem can be subjected to acid-
catalyzed dehydration to give 1-phenylcyclooctene. Hydroboration–oxidation of 1-phenyl-
cyclooctene gives trans-2-phenylcyclooctanol.
H
2
SO
4
, heat 1. B
2
H
6
2. H
2
O
2
, HO
H11002
OH
1-Phenylcyclooctanol 1-Phenylcyclooctene
H
trans-2-Phenylcyclooctanol
H
H
OH
O
OH
H11001
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
1-PhenylcyclooctanolCyclooctanone
MgBr
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
4-Phenyl-4-heptanol4-Heptanone
MgBr
OH
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
H11001 CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
O
4-Heptanone
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
4-Phenyl-4-heptanol
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
H11001
H11002
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Benzaldehyde Diphenylmethanol
CH
OH
MgBr
Bromodiphenylmethane
CH
Br
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
H11001 HC
O
HBr or PBr
3
OBr
C
6
H
5
CH H11001C
6
H
5
OH
C
6
H
5
CH C
6
H
5
MgX C
6
H
5
CHC
6
H
5
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 351
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14.20 In these problems the principles of retrosynthetic analysis are applied. The alkyl groups attached to
the carbon that bears the hydroxyl group are mentally disconnected to reveal the Grignard reagent
and carbonyl compound.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-ol
CHCH
2
CH
2
(CH
3
)
2
CCH
3
CH
OH
(1) (2)
H11001
Methylmagnesium
halide
XMgCH
3
5-Methyl-4-hexenal
O
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH(CH
3
)
2
CH11001
Ethanal
HCCH
3
O
4-Methyl-3-hexen-1-ylmagnesium
halide
CHCH
2
CH
2
MgX(CH
3
)
2
C
(2)(1)
H11001(CH
3
)
3
CCH
2
OH
2,2-Dimethyl-1-propanol
(CH
3
)
3
CMgX
tert-Butylmagnesium
halide
HCH
O
Formaldehyde
CH
1-Cyclopropyl-1-(p-anisyl)methanol
OCH
3
(1) (2)
OH
Cyclopropane-
carbaldehyde
p-Anisylmagnesium
halide
CH
O
H11001
XMg OCH
3
Cyclopropyl-
magnesium halide
p-Anisaldehyde
O
MgX
H11001
HC OCH
3
(2)(1)
5-Methyl-3-hexanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH CH
2
CH(CH
3
)
2
OH
(1) (2)
(2)(1)
H11001
Propanal Isobutylmagnesium
halide
CH
3
CH
2
CH XMgCH
2
CH(CH
3
)
2
O
Ethylmagnesium
halide
3-Methylbutanal
H11001CH
3
CH
2
MgX HCCH
2
CH(CH
3
)
2
O
352 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
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(e)
14.21 (a) Meparfynol is a tertiary alcohol and so can be prepared by addition of a carbanionic species to
a ketone. Use the same reasoning that applies to the synthesis of alcohols from Grignard
reagents. On mentally disconnecting one of the bonds to the carbon bearing the hydroxyl
group
we see that the addition of acetylide ion to 2-butanone will provide the target molecule.
The alternative, reaction of a Grignard reagent with an alkynyl ketone, is not acceptable in this
case. The acidic terminal alkyne C@H would transfer a proton to the Grignard reagent.
(b) Diphepanol is a tertiary alcohol and so may be prepared by reaction of a Grignard or organo-
lithium reagent with a ketone. Retrosynthetically, two possibilities seem reasonable:
and
N(C
6
H
5
)
2
CCH (C
6
H
5
)
2
C
OH
CH
3
NCHO
CH
3
H11002
H11001
N(C
6
H
5
)
2
CCH C
6
H
5
OH
CH
3
NC
6
H
5
CCH
O
CH
3
H11002
H11001
HC CH
3
CH
2
CCH
3
Sodium
acetylide
2-Butanone Meparfynol (94%)
CNa H11001 CH
3
CH
2
CC CH
OH
CH
3
O
1. NH
3
2. H
3
O
H11001
O
OH
CH
3
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CC CH
3
CH
2
CCH CHC
H11002
OH
(1)
(2)(3)
4-Ethyl-4-octanol
H11001
O
4-Octanone
XMg
Ethylmagnesium
halide
H11001O
3-Hexanone
XMg
Butylmagnesium
halide
H11001MgX
Propylmagnesium halide
O
3-Heptanone
(3)
(2)
(1)
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 353
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In principle either strategy is acceptable; in practice the one involving phenylmagnesium
bromide is used.
(c) A reasonable last step in the synthesis of mestranol is the addition of sodium acetylide to the
ketone shown.
Acetylide anion adds to the carbonyl from the less sterically hindered side. The methyl group
shields the top face of the carbonyl, and so acetylide adds from the bottom.
14.22 (a) Sodium acetylide adds to ketones to give tertiary alcohols.
(b) The substrate is a ketone, which reacts with ethyllithium to yield a tertiary alcohol.
(c) The first step is conversion of bromocyclopentene to the corresponding Grignard reagent,
which then reacts with formaldehyde to give a primary alcohol.
MgBr
1-Cyclopentenylmagnesium
bromide
CH
2
OH
1-Cyclopentenylmethanol
(53%)
Br
1-Bromocyclopentene
Mg
THF
2. H
3
O
H11001
1. HCH
O
O
H11001 CH
3
CH
2
Li
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
OH
CH
2
CH
3
2-Ethyl-2-adamantanol (83%)2-Adamantanone
H11001 NaC CHC
O
1. liquid ammonia
2. H
3
O
H11001
C
CCH
OH
1,1-Diphenyl-2-propyn-1-ol
(50%)
Benzophenone
O
H
3
C H
3
C
CH
3
O
Shields top face
1. NaC
2. H
3
O
H11001
CH, NH
3
CCH
OH
CH
3
O
Mestranol
N(C
6
H
5
)
2
CCHC
6
H
5
MgBr
OH
CH
3
NC
6
H
5
CCH
O
CH
3
H11001
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
Diphepanol
354 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
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(d) The reaction is one in which an alkene is converted to a cyclopropane through use of the
Simmons–Smith reagent, iodomethylzinc iodide.
(e) Methylene transfer using the Simmons–Smith reagent is stereospecific. The trans arrangement
of substituents in the alkene is carried over to the cyclopropane product.
( f ) Lithium dimethylcuprate transfers a methyl group, which substitutes for iodine on the
iodoalkene. Even halogens on sp
2
-hybridized carbon are reactive in substitution reactions
with lithium dialkylcuprates.
(g) The starting material is a p-toluenesulfonate ester. p-Toluenesulfonates are similar to alkyl
halides in their reactivity. Substitution occurs; a butyl group from lithium dibutylcuprate
replaces p-toluenesulfonate.
14.23 Phenylmagnesium bromide reacts with 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone as shown.
The phenyl substituent can be introduced either cis or trans to the tert-butyl group. The two alcohols
are therefore stereoisomers (diastereomers).
4-tert-Butylcyclohexanone
C(CH
3
)
3
O
1. C
6
H
5
MgBr, diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
4-tert-Butyl-1-phenylcyclohexanol
C
6
H
5
C(CH
3
)
3
HO
H11001
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
O
3-Pentylfuran
LiCu(CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
)
2
Lithium dibutylcuprate(3-Furyl)methyl p-toluenesulfonate
CH
3
CH
2
OS
O
O
O
H11001 LiCu(CH
3
)
2
I
CH
3
O
2-Iodo-8-methoxybenzonorbornadiene
CH
3
CH
3
O
8-Methoxy-2-methylbenzonorbornadiene
(73%)
(E)-1-Phenyl-2-butene
CH
2
I
2
Zn(Cu), ether
CC
CH
2
H
H
CH
3
trans-1-Benzyl-2-methylcyclopropane
(50%)
CH
2
H CH
3
H
CH
2
I
2
Zn(Cu)
diethyl ether
CH
2
CH CH
2
Allylbenzene Benzylcyclopropane (64%)
CH
2
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 355
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Dehydration of either alcohol yields 4-tert-butyl-1-phenylcyclohexene.
14.24 (a) By working through the sequence of reactions that occur when ethyl formate reacts with a
Grignard reagent, we can see that this combination leads to secondary alcohols.
This is simply because the substituent on the carbonyl carbon of the ester, in this case a
hydrogen, is carried through and becomes a substituent on the hydroxyl-bearing carbon of the
alcohol.
(b) Diethyl carbonate has the potential to react with 3 moles of a Grignard reagent.
The tertiary alcohols that are formed by the reaction of diethyl carbonate with Grignard
reagents have three identical R groups attached to the carbon that bears the hydroxyl
substituent.
14.25 If we use the 2-bromobutane given, along with the information that the reaction occurs with net
inversion of configuration, the stereochemical course of the reaction may be written as
The phenyl group becomes bonded to carbon from the opposite side of the leaving group.
Applying the Cahn–Ingold–Prelog notational system described in Section 7.6 to the product, the
order of decreasing precedence is
C
6
H
5
H11022 CH
3
CH
2
H11022 CH
3
H11022 H
LiCu(C
6
H
5
)
2
C
H
CH
3
CH
2
CH
3
C
6
H
5
CH
CH
3CH
3
CH
2
Br
H11001 CH
3
CH
2
OMgXH11001RMgX
Grignard
reagent
CH
3
CH
2
OCOCH
2
CH
3
O
Diethyl
carbonate
RCOCH
2
CH
3
O
Ester
RCR
O
Ketone
RCR
R
OH
Tertiary alcohol
RMgX
1. RMgX
2. H
3
O
H11001
CH
3
CH
2
OMgXH11001
H11001 CH
3
CH
2
OMgXH11001RMgX
Grignard
reagent
HCOCH
2
CH
3
O
Ethyl formate
RCH
O
Aldehyde
RCHR
OH
Secondary
alcohol
1. RMgX, diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
C(CH
3
)
3
C
6
H
5
H
OH
C(CH
3
)
3
C
6
H
5
H
HO
H
H11001
, heat
or
C(CH
3
)
3
C
6
H
5
H
4-tert-Butyl-1-phenylcyclohexene
356 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
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Orienting the molecule so that the lowest ranked substituent (H) is away from us, we see that the
order of decreasing precedence is clockwise.
The absolute configuration is R.
14.26 The substrates are secondary alkyl p-toluenesulfonates, and so we expect elimination to compete
with substitution. Compound B is formed in both reactions and has the molecular formula of
4-tert-butylcyclohexene. Because the two p-toluenesulfonates are diastereomers, it is likely that
compounds A and C, especially since they have the same molecular formula, are also diastereomers.
Assuming that the substitution reactions proceed with inversion of configuration, we conclude that
the products are as shown.
Inversion of configuration is borne out by the fact given in the problem that compound C is more
stable than compound A. Both substituents are equatorial in C; the methyl group is axial in A.
14.27 We are told in the statement of the problem that the first step is conversion of the alcohol to the cor-
responding p-toluenesulfonate. This step is carried out as follows:
Alkyl p-toluenesulfonates react with lithium dialkylcuprates in the same way that alkyl halides do.
Treatment of the preceding p-toluenesulfonate with lithium dibutylcuprate gives the desired
compound.
O OTs
3,8-Epoxyundecyl
p-toluenesulfonate
O
4,9-Epoxypentadecane
LiCu(CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
)
2
p-Toluenesulfonyl
chloride (TsCl)
CH
3
SO
2
Cl
pyridine
H11001
3,8-Epoxy-1-undecanol
O OH
3,8-Epoxyundecyl
p-toluenesulfonate
O OTs
(CH
3
)
3
C
CH
3
cis-4-tert-Butylcyclohexyl
p-toluenesulfonate
trans-1-tert-Butyl-4-methylcyclohexane
(compound C, C
11
H
22
)
Compound B
LiCu(CH
3
)
2
H11001
(CH
3
)
3
C
OTs
(CH
3
)
3
C
(CH
3
)
3
C
OTs
trans-4-tert-Butylcyclohexyl
p-toluenesulfonate
cis-1-tert-Butyl-4-methylcyclohexane
(compound A, C
11
H
22
)
4-tert-Butylcyclohexene
(compound B, C
10
H
18
)
LiCu(CH
3
)
2
(CH
3
)
3
C
CH
3
H11001
(CH
3
)
3
C
C
6
H
5
H
3
C CH
2
CH
3
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 357
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As actually performed, a 91% yield of the desired product was obtained in the reaction of the
p-toluenesulfonate with lithium dibutylcuprate.
14.28 (a) The desired 1-deuteriobutane can be obtained by reaction of D
2
O with butyllithium or butyl-
magnesium bromide.
Preparation of the organometallic compounds requires an alkyl bromide, which is synthesized
from the corresponding alcohol.
(b) In a sequence identical to that of part (a) in design but using 2-butanol as the starting mate-
rial, 2-deuteriobutane may be prepared.
An analogous procedure involving sec-butyllithium in place of the Grignard reagent can be
used.
14.29 All the protons in benzene are equivalent. In diphenylmethane and in triphenylmethane, protons are
attached either to the sp
2
-hybridized carbons of the ring or to the sp
3
-hybridized carbon between the
rings. The large difference in acidity between diphenylmethane and benzene suggests that it is not a
ring proton that is lost on ionization in diphenylmethane but rather a proton from the methylene
group.
The anion produced is stabilized by resonance. It is a benzylic carbanion.
C
H11002
H
etc.
C
H11002
H
(C
6
H
5
)
2
CH H
H11001
H11001
H11002
(C
6
H
5
)CH
2
Diphenylmethane
PBr
3
Mg
ether
D
2
O
2-Deuteriobutane
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
3
D
sec-Butylmagnesium
bromide
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
3
MgBr
2-Bromobutane
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
3
Br
2-Butanol
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
3
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Li
Butyllithium
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-Bromobutane
Li
ether
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
Butylmagnesium bromide
Mg
ether
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-Butanol 1-Bromobutane
PBr
3
or HBr
H11001CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Li
Butyllithium
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
D
1-Deuteriobutane
Deuterium
oxide
D
2
O
H11001
Butylmagnesium
bromide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr D
2
O
or
358 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
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Both rings are involved in delocalizing the negative charge. The anion from triphenylmethane is
stabilized by resonance involving all three rings.
Delocalization of the negative charge by resonance is not possible in the anion of benzene. The
pair of unshared electrons in phenyl anion is in an sp
2
hybrid orbital that does not interact with the
H9266 system.
14.30 The titanium-containing compound is a metallocene. (It has cyclopentadienyl rings as ligands.) With
an atomic number of 22, titanium has an electron configuration of [Ar]4s
2
3d
2
. As the following
accounting shows, this titanium complex is 2 electrons short of satisfying the 18-electron rule.
1,3-Butadiene(tricarbonyl)iron satisfies the 18-electron rule. The electron configuration of iron is
[Ar]4s
2
3d
6
.
14.31 Using 1-decene as an example, we can see from the following schematic that the growing polymer
will incorporate a C
8
side chain at every point where 1-decene replaces ethylene.
14.32–14.36 Solutions to molecular modeling exercises are not provided in this Study Guide and Solutions Man-
ual. You should use Learning By Modeling for these exercises.
5 Ethylene molecules H11001 1 1-decene molecule Section of linear low-density polyethylene
Fe: 8 electrons
1,3-Butadiene ligand: 4 electrons
Three CO ligands: 6 electrons
Total: 18 electrons
Fe
CO
CO
OC
HH
HH
Ti: 4 electrons
Two cyclopentadienyl rings: 10 electrons
Two chlorine atoms: 2 electrons
Total: 16 electrons
Ti
Cl
Cl
Not delocalized into H9266 system
C
H11002
C
H11002
etc.
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 359
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SELF-TEST
PART A
A-1. Give a method for the preparation of each of the following organometallic compounds, using
appropriate starting materials:
(a) Cyclohexyllithium
(b) tert-Butylmagnesium bromide
(c) Lithium dibenzylcuprate
A-2. Give the structure of the product obtained by each of the following reaction schemes:
(a)(d)
(b e)
(c)
A-3. Give two combinations of an organometallic reagent and a carbonyl compound that may be
used for the preparation of each of the following:
(a)
(b)
A-4. Gives the structure of the organometallic reagent necessary to carry out each of the following:
(a)
(b)
(c)
A-5. Compounds A through F are some common organic solvents. Which ones would be suitable
for use in the preparation of a Grignard reagent? For those that are not suitable, give a brief
reason why.
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
A
CH
3
OCH
2
CH
2
OCH
3
B
HOCH
2
CH
2
OH
C
D
CH
3
COCH
2
CH
3
O
F
CH
3
COH
O
E
O
?
CH
3
CH
3
CH
3
CH
3
1. ?
2. H
3
O
H11001
C
6
H
5
CH
2
CO
2
CH
3
(CH
3
)
2
CHCCH(CH
3
)
2
OH
CH
2
C
6
H
5
?
CH
3
I
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
OH
C
6
H
5
CHC(CH
3
)
3
OH
H
3
CBr ?
1. Mg
3. H
3
O
H11001
2. H
2
C O
KOC(CH
3
)
3
(CH
3
)
3
COH
?
H11001 CHBr
3
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
Li
D
2
O
?
O
1. CH
3
CH
2
Li
2. H
3
O
H11001
?
CH
3
CO
2
CH
2
CH
3
?
1. 2C
6
H
5
MgBr
2. H
3
O
H11001
360 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
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A-6. Show by a series of chemical equations how you would prepare octane from 1-butanol as the
source of all its carbon atoms.
A-7. Synthesis of the following alcohol is possible by three schemes using Grignard reagents.
Give the reagents necessary to carry out each of them.
A-8. Using ethylbenzene and any other necessary organic or inorganic reagents, outline a synthe-
sis of 3-phenyl-2-butanol.
A-9. Give the structure of the final product of each of the following sequences of reactions.
(a)
(b)
(c)
PART B
B-1. Which (if any) of the following would not be classified as an organometallic substance?
(a) Triethylaluminum
(b) Ethylmagnesium iodide
(c) Potassium tert-butoxide
(d) None of these (all are organometallic compounds)
B-2. Rank the following species in order of increasing polarity of the carbon–metal bond
(least B most polar):
(a)3H11021 1 H11021 2(b)2H11021 1 H11021 3(c)1H11021 3 H11021 2(d)2H11021 3 H11021 1
B-3. Which sequence of reagents would carry out the following conversion?
(a)H
2
SO
4
, heat; then B
2
D
6
; then H
2
O
2
, HO
H11002
(b)H
2
SO
4
, heat; then D
2
, Pt
(c)CH
3
MgBr; then D
2
O
(d) HBr; then Mg; then D
2
O
B-4. Arrange the following intermediates in order of decreasing basicity (strongest B weakest):
(a)2H11022 1 H11022 4 H11022 3(c)3H11022 4 H11022 1 H11022 2
(b)4H11022 1 H11022 2 H11022 3(d)3H11022 2 H11022 4 H11022 1
H
2
C CHNa HC CNaCH
3
CH
2
Na CH
3
CH
2
ONa
12 4
CH
3
CH
2
CHCH
3
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CHCH
3
D
?
CH
3
CH
2
MgCl
1
CH
3
CH
2
Na
2
(CH
3
CH
2
)
3
Al
3
NaNH
2
H
3
O
H11001
?CH
3
CCH
O
HCl Mg H
3
O
H11001
?1-Butene
CH
3
CH
O
Br
2
FeBr
3
Mg CH
3
CCH
2
CH
3
O
H
3
O
H11001
?
(CH
3
)
2
CHC(CH
3
)
2
OH
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 361
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B-5. Which, if any, of the following pairs of reagents could be used to prepare 2-phenyl-
2-butanol?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e) None of these combinations would be effective.
B-6. Which of the following reagents would be effective for the following reaction sequence?
(a) Sodium ethoxide (c) Butyllithium
(b) Magnesium in diethyl ether (d) Potassium hydroxide
B-7. What is the product of the following reaction?
B-8. Which of the following combinations of reagents will yield a chiral product after hydrolysis
in aqueous acid?
(d) Both (a) and (c)
O
H11001(b) CH
3
MgBr
H11001(c) 2CH
3
MgBrCH
3
CH
2
COCH
3
O
O
H
H11001(a) CH
3
MgBr
HOCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CHOCH
3
(d)
CH
3
HOCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
COH(b)
CH
3
CH
3
CH
3
OCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CHCH
3
(c)
OH
HOCHCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CHOH(a)
CH
3
CH
3
O O
H11001 2CH
3
MgBr
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
C
6
H
5
CCH C
6
H
5
C CCH
2
OH
3. H
3
O
H11001
1. ?
2. H
2
C O
C
6
H
5
MgCl CH
3
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
H11001
O
CH
3
MgI C
6
H
5
CH
2
CCH
3
H11001
O
CH
3
CH
2
MgBr C
6
H
5
CH
2
CHH11001
O
CH
3
CH
2
MgBr C
6
H
5
CH
2
CCH
3
H11001
O
CH
3
CH
2
CC
6
H
5
CH
3
OH
2-Phenyl-2-butanol
362 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
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B-9. Which sequence of steps describes the best synthesis of 2-phenylpropene?
(a) Benzene H11001 2-chloropropene, AlCl
3
(b) Benzene H11001 propene, H
2
SO
4
(c) 1. Benzaldehyde (C
6
H
5
CH?O) H11001 CH
3
CH
2
MgBr, diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
3. H
2
SO
4
, heat
(d) 1. Bromobenzene H11001 Mg, diethyl ether
2. Propanal (CH
3
CH
2
CH?O)
3. H
3
O
H11001
4. H
2
SO
4
, heat
(e) 1. Bromobenzene H11001 Mg, diethyl ether
2. Acetone [(CH
3
)
2
C?O)]
3. H
3
O
H11001
4. H
2
SO
4
, heat
B-10. What sequence of steps represents the best synthesis of 4-heptanol (CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
)
2
CHOH?
(a)CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr (2 mol) H11001 formaldehyde (CH
2
?O) in diethyl ether followed by
H
3
O
H11001
(b)CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr H11001 butanal (CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH?O) in diethyl ether followed by
H
3
O
H11001
(c)CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr H11001 acetone [(CH
3
)
2
C?O] in diethyl ether followed by H
3
O
H11001
(d) (CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
)
2
CHMgBr H11001 formaldehyde (CH
2
?O) in diethyl ether followed by
H
3
O
H11001
(e)CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr H11001 ethyl acetate ( ) in diethyl ether followed by
H
3
O
H11001
B-11. All of the following compounds react with ethylmagnesium bromide. Alcohols are formed
from four of the compounds. Which one does not give an alcohol?
B-12. Give the major product of the following reaction:
(a) cis-1-Ethyl-2-methylcyclopropane
(b) trans-1-Ethyl-2-methylcyclopropane
(c) 1-Ethyl-1-methylcyclopropane
(d) An equimolar mixture of products (a) and (b)
(E)-2-pentene ?
CH
2
I
2
, Zn(Cu)
CH(a)
O
COH(b)
O
COCH
3
(c)
O
CH
2
OCCH
3
(e)
O
CCH
3
(d)
O
CH
3
COCH
2
CH
3
O
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS 363
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