The Grignard reaction, though useful, has several limitations. One major problem is that a Grignard reagent can't be pepared reaagent can't be prepared from an organohalide if there are other reactive functional groups in the same molecule. For example, a compound that is both an alkyl halide and a ketone can't form a Grignard reagent because it woud react with itself. Similarly, a compound that is both an alkyl halide and a carboxylic acid, an alcohot,or an amine can't form a grignard reagent because the acidic RCO2H, ROH, or RNH2 hydrogen present in the same molecule would react with the basic Gringnard reagent as rapily as it forms. In general, Grignard reagents can't be prepared from alkyl halides that contain the following functional groups(FG):
As with the reduction of carbonyl compounds discussed in the previous section, we'll defer a detaild treatment of the mechanism of Grignard reactione until Chapter 19. For moment, it's sufficient to note that Grignard reagents act as nucteophilic carbon anions (carbanions, :R-) and that the addition of a Grignard reagent to a carbonyl compound is analogous to the addition of hydride ion. The intermediate is an alkoxide ion, which is protonated by addition of H3O+ in a second step