Magnesiation of functionalized iodobenzenes at room temperature: clarification of the stability of ethoxycarbonylphenylmagnesium iodides

Magnesiation of functionalized aromatic halide, ethyl 3- or 4-iodobenzoate, was accomplished using active magnesium. The resulting phenylmagnesium iodides decomposed little by little in proportion to extension of the reaction time at room temperature. The magnesiation followed by addition of carbonyl compounds gave the corresponding adducts in good to moderate yields.