Question:

Which of the following hydrocarbons reacts easily with MeMgBr to give methane? 

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Grignard reagents give methane with:
Alcohols
Terminal alkynes
Highly acidic hydrocarbons (like cyclopentadiene)
Aromatic anion formation increases acidity.
Updated On: Mar 2, 2026
  • Option a
  • Option b
  • Option c
  • Option d
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Concept: Grignard reagents (MeMgBr) are strong bases and react with acidic hydrogens to produce methane:
\[ \text{MeMgBr} + \text{H–X} \rightarrow \text{CH}_4 \]
Thus, hydrocarbon must contain acidic hydrogen.
Step 1: Identify acidity of options
Cyclopropene: weakly acidic
Cyclopentadiene: highly acidic (pKa \( \sim 16 \))
Benzene: non-acidic
Cyclooctatetraene: non-aromatic, weak acidity
Step 2: Reason
Cyclopentadiene forms aromatic cyclopentadienyl anion after deprotonation (6\(\pi\) electrons), making its hydrogen acidic.
Conclusion:
Cyclopentadiene reacts readily with MeMgBr to produce methane.
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