Organomercury refers to the group of organometallic compounds containing mercury. It has been suggested that Organometallic compounds be merged into this article or section. ... General Name, Symbol, Number mercury, Hg, 80 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 6, d Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 200. ...

Important organomercury compounds are the ethylmercury C₂H₅Hg⁺ , Methylmercury CH₃Hg⁺ cations , dimethylmercury (CH₃)₂Hg and C₉H₉HgNaO₂S or Thiomersal. Ethylmercury (sometimes ethyl mercury) is a cation that forms organomercury compounds such as ethylmercury chloride and ethylmercury urea. ... Methylmercury (sometimes methyl mercury), an organometallic positive ion (cation), is a widespread bioaccumulative environmental toxin. ... A cation is an ion with positive charge. ... Dimethylmercury ((CH3)2Hg) is a flammable, colorless liquid, and one of the strongest known neurotoxins. ... For discussion on alleged health effects of thiomersal in vaccines, see Thiomersal controversy. ...

Organomercury compounds are notoriously toxic especially diethylmercury and find use as antifungal agents and insecticides. they are stable to air and moisture and some are sensitive to light. An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot, ringworm and candidiasis (thrush), as well as serious systemic infections like cryptococcal meningitis. ... An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all developmental forms. ...

Synthesis

General methods for the synthesis of simple diorganomercuries have similarities to that of organocadmium compounds. An organocadmium compound is a organometallic compound containing a carbon to cadmium chemical bond. ...

A general synthetic method to diethylmercury ^[1] is the reaction of mercury chloride with two equivalents of the Grignard reagent ethylmagnesium bromide in diethyl ether. Et₂Hg is a liquid with density 2.466, and boiling point 57°C at 16 torr. The compound is slightly soluble in ethanol and soluble in ether. Mercury chloride can refer to: Mercury_(II)_chloride (HgCl2) Mercury_(I)_chloride (Hg2Cl2) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A Grignard Reagent is an alkyl- or aryl- magnesium halide. ... Diethyl ether, also known as ether and ethoxyethane, is a clear, colorless, and highly flammable liquid with a low boiling point and a characteristic smell. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per volume. ... The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it can change its state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid at a given pressure. ... The torr (symbol: Torr) or millimetre of mercury (mmHg) is a non-SI unit of pressure. ...

Diphenylmercury is prepared by reaction of mercury chloride and phenylmagnesium bromide. Et₂Hg is a liquid with melting point 124.5°C. The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ...

The naphtalene derivative di-2-naphthylmercury can be prepared from the corresponding diazonium salt β-naphthalenediazonium chloride and copper metal ^[2]. Naphthalene (also known as naphthalin, naphthaline, tar camphor, white tar, albocarbon, or naphthene) is a crystalline white solid hydrocarbon with a typical mothball odor. ... In chemistry, azo compounds generally have a molecular formula of the form R-N=N-R, in which R and R can be either aromatic or aliphatic. ...

A method for the synthesis of Phenyl(trichloromethyl)mercury starts from phenylmercuric chloride and sodium trichloroacetate ^[3]. This compound on heating generates dichlorocarbene. In chemistry a carbene is a short-lived and highly reactive organic molecule with a divalent carbon atom with only 6 valence electrons and the general formula: R1R2C:. The carbon atom is sp2 hybridised with a empty p-orbital extending above and below a plane containing R1 and R2 and...

Reactions

Due to its toxicity and low nucleophilicity compared to organocadmium and organozinc compounds in group 12 organomercury compounds have limited use. A mercury-carbon bond is present in one of the intermediates in the oxymercuration reaction of alkenes to alcohols with mercuric acetate. Organozinc compounds in organic chemistry contain carbon to zinc chemical bonds. ... The Group 12 elements are: Zinc (30) Cadmium (48) Mercury (80) Ununbium (112) Color coding for these atomic numbers: At room temperature, all are solid but mercury is liquid; red indicates item is synthetic and does not occur naturally. ... The oxymercuration reaction is an electrophilic addition organic reaction that transforms an alkene into a neutral alcohol. ...

External links

• Listing of relevant organomercury pesticides Link
• Listing of relevant organomercury pesticides Link

See also

• Other chemistries of carbon with other group 12 elements: organozinc compounds, organocadmium compounds and organomercury compounds.

The Group 12 elements are: Zinc (30) Cadmium (48) Mercury (80) Ununbium (112) Color coding for these atomic numbers: At room temperature, all are solid but mercury is liquid; red indicates item is synthetic and does not occur naturally. ... Organozinc compounds in organic chemistry contain carbon to zinc chemical bonds. ... An organocadmium compound is a organometallic compound containing a carbon to cadmium chemical bond. ...

References

1. ^ Synthetic Methods of Organometallic and Inorganic Chemistry Vol 5, Copper, Silver, Gold, Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury W.A. Herrmann Ed. ISBN 3-13-103061-5
2. ^ Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 2, p.381 (1943); Vol. 12, p.46 (1932) Article.
3. ^ Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p.969 (1973); Vol. 46, p.98 (1966). Article