Mercury(II) Chloride

Introduction

Organomercurials were among the first prepared organometallic compounds, being known since the second half of the 19^th century.[1] [2] Despite their toxicity, mercury compounds are still used in the chemical and petrochemical industries. For instance, the industrial synthesis of vinyl chloride and acetaldehyde from acetylene is carried out using mercury catalysts.[3] Therefore, the study of environmental and health impacts of mercury and organomercurials, as well as the improvement of safety and handling techniques, are of great importance.

Mercury(II) chloride, HgCl₂, is a commercially available mercury salt, and thus an important mercury(II) source. Besides novel mercuration reactions with organic substrates,[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] HgCl₂ has been extensively used in a variety of cyclization reactions, forming both carbocycles and heterocycles.[8–10] Its use as inorganic thiophile has led to the formation of several new products from organosulfur reactants, especially thiocarbonyl compounds.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] Finally, the synthesis of mercury(II) alkynyls, mainly from HgCl₂, and their use as building blocks for supramolecular structures has been reviewed.[17]

• References

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