Organolead chemistry : Part VI. Removal of methyllead compounds from aqueous solution by reaction with zinc

Abstract Trimethyllead chloride or dimethyllead dichloride in aqueous solution reacts with zinc to give ultimately methane, lead and zinc oxide and zinc chloride. The reactions proceed in two distinct stages, the first involving rapid removal of the organolead species from solution and the second leading to the final products. The intermediacy of organometallic compounds with lead-zinc bonds, which undergo 1,2-shift of methyl groups from lead to zinc followed by hydrolysis of the resulting methylzinc species, is suggested. The reactions have application in the treatment of effluents from the manufacture of tetramethyllead.