Organomercury compounds. XVIII. Thermal decomposition reactions of mercuric arenesulphonate pyridinates

Abstract

The mercuric arenesulphonate pyridinates, Hg(O3SR)2,(py)2 (R = C6X5, p- HC6X4, o-HC6X4, or m-HC6Cl4; X = Cl or F) and Hg(O3S-m-HC6F4)2,(py)3, have been prepared by treatment of the appropriate mercuric arenesulphonate dihydrates with pyridine. Thermal decomposition of the compounds Hg(O3SR)2,(py)2 (R = C6X5, p-HC6X4, or m-HC6Cl4) and Hg(O3S-m-HC6F4)2,(py)3 at c. 120-240� under vacuum gave the corresponding diarylmercurials (yields: 45-90%) and the complex (py),SO3 in all cases, together with (- m-HgC6F4SO3-)n, and low yields of polyfluorobenzenes and/or polyfluorobenzenesulphonic acids. Similar decomposition of the compounds Hg(O3S-o-HC6X4)2,(py)2 gave (-o-HgC6X4SO3-)n, (py),SO3, o- HC6X4SO3H, and o-H2C6X4, and there was some evidence for formation of a trace of o-(o-HC6Cl4- SO3Hg)C6Cl4SO3HgO3S-o-HC6Cl4. The derivatives (- HgC6X4SO3-)n, were identified by established degradation procedures.