Nucleophilic substitution of aromatic bromine in 2‐bromobenzophenone by Grignard reagents

Abstract The reaction of 2‐bromobenzophenone (1) with methyl, ethyl, and phenyl Grignard reagents was found to involve substantial substitution of bromine by the organic group of the Grignard reagent It is shown that substitution occurs by intramolecular nucleophilic substitution of a ketone‐Grignard complex (9). The mechanistic implications of this reaction are discussed.