Mercury Hydrides and Water Brief General Reaction Considerations

2 Mercury Hydrides and Water Brief General Reaction Considerations 

RSC Green Chemistry No. 6 Radical Reactions in Aqueous Media By V. Tamara Perchyonok V. Tamara Perchyonok 2010 

Further evidence was obtained from the observation that alcohols were obtained when reduction was performed under air.4 

The organomercury radical extrudes mercury to produce a carbon radical which propagates the chain by abstracting a hydrogen atom from another molecule of hydride (path A). If the reaction is conducted in the deliberate presence of oxygen, the carbon radical can be captured to give ultimately an alcohol by reduction of the intermediate hydroperoxide (path B). 

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