FORMATION OF GRIGNARD SPECIES FROM THE REACTION OF METHYL HALIDES WITH LASER-ABLATED MAGNESIUM ATOMS. A MATRIX INFRARED STUDY OF $CH_{3}MgF, CH_{3}MgCl, CH_{3}MgBr$, AND $CH_{3}MgI$

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of VirginiaMagnesium atoms were generated by laser ablation and reacted with methyl halides diluted (0.5\% to 0.1\%) in argon. Reaction products were trapped in a cryogenic argon matrix and analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Reaction products, which included isolated $CH_{3}MgX, MgX, MgX_{2}, MgH, MgH_{2}, CH_{4}, C_{2}H_{6}, CH_{2}X$, and $HMgCH_{2}X$, were identified by isotopic $(^{13}C, D$, and $^{26}Mg)$ substitution and by correlation with B3LYP and BP86 frequency calculations. This investigation reports the first experimental evidence for the fluoride Grignard species $CH_{3}MgF$. Infrared absorptions were also observed for associated Grignard species