Question

How do Grignard reagents work?

Answer 1

See this old answer for details.

Explanation:

To answer you specific question, Grignard reactions usually work superbly. They make `C-C` bonds reliably and straightforwardly. The Grignard reagent is a powerful nucleophile, i.e. `R^(delta-)""^(delta+)MgBr`, or even as `R^(-)""^(+)MgBr`, which reacts with carbonyls and epoxides to give substituted `C-C` bonds.

Of course, when we make and deploy Grignard reagents, we have to have appropriate conditions, i.e. dry, ethereal solvents, and substrates that do not possess protic functionality, i.e. alcoholic or carboxylic function is out.