1. Organomagnesium compounds, known as Grignard reagents, were discovered in 1900 by Victor Grignard for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1912.
2. Grignard reagents are prepared by reacting an organic halide with magnesium metal turnings in dry diethyl ether. Common organic halides used are alkyl halides and aryl halides.
3. In the laboratory, Grignard reagents are prepared by adding an alkyl halide dissolved in diethyl ether to a flask containing magnesium turnings and diethyl ether under reflux. A crystal of iodine is sometimes added as a catalyst to initiate the reaction.