Arylmercury compounds. III. Poly(arylmercury) compounds via symmetrisation reaction

Abstract

Dimercurated aryl compounds [Ar(HgX),] are converted either to linear or cyclic poly(ary1mercury) compounds. The reaction is carried out in a mixture of water and organic solvent via the symmetrisation process in which ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ammonia serve as chelating agent and auxiliary ligand, respectively. Similarly, mercury-crosslinked polystyrene is obtained by applying the process for polymercurated polystyrene.