THE MECHANISM OF ORGANOMERCURIAL OXIDATION BY MERCURIC SALTS

Abstract
It has been shown that the oxidation of organomercuric salts by inorganic mercuric salts is inhibited by oxygen, accelerated to some extent by acids, and will form esters as products even in the presence of much water. Moreover, the system will polymerize acrylonitrile. These evidences of free radical participation are substantiated by the formation of the same products when pernitrous acid replaces inorganic mercuric salt in the system. Kinetic studies show that radicals are involved in a self-regenerating chain in which active monomeric mercurous salt seems to be the carrier.

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