Magnesium is a versatile metal that finds several important uses in organic synthesis. It is widely used for the formation of Grignard reagents, which are versatile organometallic compounds. They can react with a wide range of electrophiles, such as carbonyl compounds, to form new carbon-carbon bonds. Grignard reactions are essential in the synthesis of alcohols, carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, and many other organic compounds. Magnesium can also be used in various reduction reactions.

Magnesium (20-230 mesh) can be used in the synthesis of nanaomycin D via a Hauser–Kraus annulation using a chiral enone-lactone. It is also used to prepare polymorphs of Mg-Sn and Mg-Pb intermetallic compounds by the high-energy ball-milling method. These magnesium alloys are used as active materials in magnesium batteries.