Mercury chloride ethylene derivatives

Mercury Derivatives.—The mode of preparation of these compounds is similar to that adopted for the preceding compounds. When mercuric chloride is used and the operations are carried out in methyl alcohol, a yellow powder results, which is soluble in methyl alcohol, glycerine, ethylene glycol, and acidified potassium iodide solution. It is decomposed by water or sodiunr hydroxide aird is only slightly soluble in dilute acids, but if treated with antimony compounds, antimonyl derivatives are obtained, which are more soluble and are stable in alkaline solutions. The decomposition by water is said to give rise to colloidal mercury and 3-amino-4-hydroxyplienylarsenoxide, OH.CgHa.(NH2).AsO. If an excess of mercuric chloride is used, the oxidation proceeds to o-aminophenol, mercurous chloride, and arsenious... 

This reaction is applied to a wide range of alkenes such as acrylic esters, styrene, ethylene, 1-alkene, 1,3-dienes, allyl chloride, allyl acetate, and vinyl ethers [122]. Tolerance of the arylmercury compounds to polar functional groups in the substrate renders the reaction applicable to the synthesis of many functionalized styrene derivatives. A ferrocenyl mercury compound undergoes addition to alkene via the Heck type reaction of methyl methacrylate (Eq. 5.29) [123]. 

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