04-10-2008, 08:03 PM
From: Steven Bedrick <bedrick#NoSpam.bigfoot.com> This one covers the Grignard alcohol formation reactions. I got it from one of my Organic Chemistry profs, who claims to have found it in a drawer at Rutgers University around 1976. He attributes it to F. Westheimer of Harvard University.
(sung to the tune of "America The Beautiful")
Oh Grignard, the Beautiful
The carbonyl is polarized, The carbon end is plus. A nucleophile will thus attack The carbon nucleus. A Grignard yields an alcohol, Of types there are but three; It makes a bond to correspond From C to shining C. A Secondary's synthesis Requires an aldehyde. For Tertiary, a carbanion And ketone may collide. When Grignards meet H2CO The product's Primary. They stick like glue to CO2 Join C to lonely C.
(sung to the tune of "America The Beautiful")
Oh Grignard, the Beautiful
The carbonyl is polarized, The carbon end is plus. A nucleophile will thus attack The carbon nucleus. A Grignard yields an alcohol, Of types there are but three; It makes a bond to correspond From C to shining C. A Secondary's synthesis Requires an aldehyde. For Tertiary, a carbanion And ketone may collide. When Grignards meet H2CO The product's Primary. They stick like glue to CO2 Join C to lonely C.