[staphlee]

Hi there, i have a question about formaldehyde. Using formaldehyde to react with Grignard reagent or orgaolithium reagent results in alcohol. But i checked formaldehyde in Aldrich and found they are all stored in 37%wt-40%wt in H2O. When people do the above reaction, don't Grignard reagent or organolithium be deprotonated  before attacking the carbonyl? Is there any dry formaldehyde commerically available? Please help me to find out this. Thank you.

[Gius]

Im sure the reaction takes place in another medium...i.e. formadehyde not in water

Most common is ether...which should dissolve formaldehyde I believe

[movies]

Usually you get dry formaldehyde from cracking paraformaldehyde solid (formaldehyde polymer) and bubbling the gas through the solution of the alkyl metal reagent.