A methyl magnesium chloride grignard solution (2.5 Molar in butyl diglyme), a true, clear, single-phase grignard solution (2.5 M), can be directly produced in butyl diglyme. For commercial processes, grignards made with butyl diglyme are safer and more environmentally friendly. This is a result of the high flash point and water insolubility characteristics of butyl diglyme. The safety of grignard reagents is directly related to the flash point of the solvent. Butyl diglyme (BDGL) has a much higher flash point and boiling point than THF and diethyl ether (DEE). The higher boiling point of butyl diglyme also allows for easier reaction initiation at atmospheric pressures.

Butyl diglyme is a saturated polyether with no other functional group and is a relatively inert aprotic polar compound. In water, butyl diglyme is only 0.3% soluble. Water is only 1.4% soluble in butyl diglyme.

For more information on grignards made with glymes, see the grignard section of this web page.