The solvent effect on the Grignard reaction of benzyl, aryl and heteroaromatic substrates has been systematically evaluated based on reaction efficiency, ease of subsequent work-up, safety and greenness. 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF), which can be derived from renewable resources, had at least an equal if not a superior overall process most notably in suppressing the Wurtz coupling by-product from