ABSTRACT
Since Grignard reactions of alkyl iodides and bromides are diffusion-controlled after their "initiation," the reaction rate is directly proportional to the available metal surface area [2] . The simplest "trick" for enforcing the initiation of magnesium-induced reactions by increasing the available surface area is removal of oxide layers by washing with mineral acids; then, filing, grinding, and milling [3] . Although removal of the oxide layers and augmentation of the surface area will increase the reactivity of ordinary magnesium, the production of the finest particles or, in the ideal case, even of large clusters, i s far from being achieved using this method.
