Dehalogenation

Such reactions are amenable to catalysis: The rate of dehalogenation depends on the strength of the bond between the carbon and halogen atom.

Of some interest in organic synthesis, electropositive metals react with many organic halides in a metal-halogen exchange: The resulting organometallic compound is susceptible to hydrolysis: Heavily studied examples are found in organolithium chemistry and organomagnesium chemistry.

The reaction begins with the formation of alkyl/arene-magnesium-halogen compound, followed by addition of proton source to form dehalogenated product.

[9] Morrison and his co-workers also reported dehalogenation of organic halides by flash vacuum pyrolysis using magnesium.

[11] The reaction achieves practical interest in the context of organic synthesis, e.g. Cu-promoted Ullmann coupling.