meant that the formal oxidation state or charge is equal to the group number i e 2 minus the number of unshared electrons i e 2 minus the number of bonds i e 0 the highly reactive magnesium species of the present invention is prepared from the reduction of a magnesium ii salt the counterion of which can be any of a variety of anions that does not contain an acidic proton for example the anion can be a sulfate nitrate nitrite cyanide or halide preferably the anion is a halide more preferably the anion of the mg ii salt is cl generally the reducing agent can be any reducing agent that is capable of reducing mg ii salts in an ethereal polyethereal or hydrocarbon solvent any reducing agent having a reduction potential of about 1 5 volts or more negative will satisfy this relation it is preferred however if the reducing agent has a reduction potential of about 1 8 volts or more negative and most preferred if the reducing agent has a reduction potential of about 2 0 volts or more negative preferably the reduction takes place in an ethereal or polyethereal solvent and more preferably in tetrahydrofuran thf examples of suitable reducing agents include alkali metal salts.