THE REDISTRIBUTION REACTION OF BIS-MERCURIALS

The demetalation of diorganosubstituted mercury compounds is catalyzed by peroxides. When organomercuric salts are present this demetalation leads to formation of mercurous salt plus mercury. This latter combination has been found to be a catalyst for the redistribution reaction of bis-mercurials. It is suggested that all previously reported catalysts for this reaction operate by formation of the mercurous salt – mercury combination. Equilibration studies with this combination as catalyst indicate that random exchange is not general for the redistribution reaction of mercury compounds.