Resumen de A Colorful Grignard Reaction:: Preparation of the Triarylmethane Dyes from 4-Bromo-N,N-Dimethylaniline

Douglass F. Taber, Robert P. Meagley, Danielle Supplee

• The Grignard reagent is readily prepared from 4-bromo-N,N-dimethylaniline. Addition of this Grignard reagent to diethyl carbonate, followed by acid hydrolysis gives the triarylmethane dye Crystal Violet. Addition of the Grignard reagent to methyl benzoate, followed by acid hydrolysis gives the dye Malachite Green. A procedure suitable for an undergraduate laboratory course is presented.