The preparation and some reactions of 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorophenylmagnesium chloride

The reaction of pentachlorobenzene with metallic magnesium in THF at 10–15°C gives after hydrolysis 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachlorobenzene (76%) and pentachlorobenzene (8%); after trimethylsilylation, 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachloro-3-(trimethylsilyl)benzene (74%), pentachloro(trimethylsilyl)benzene (8%) and 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachlorobenzene (6%); after iodination, 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachloroiodobenzene (44%), pentachloroiodobenzene (12%) and 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachlorobenzene (9%); and finally after carbonation, 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorobenzoic acid (58%). These products indicate that in the Grignard reaction a mixture of largely 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorophenylmagnesium chloride and some pentachlorophenylmagnesium chloride is formed. The formation pentachlorophenylmagnesium chloride is explained on the basis of metal—hydrogen exchange reaction between 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorophenylmagnesium chloride and the unreacted pentachlorobenzene.