Organo-mercury associations

The structural chemistry of some metal dithiocarbamates, i.e. systematics, coordination modes, crystal packing, and supramolecular self-assembly patterns of nickel, zinc, cadmium, mercury,363 organotin,364 and tellurium,365 366 complexes has been thoroughly analyzed and discussed in detail. Supramolecular self-assembly frequently occurs in non-transition heavier soft metal dithiocarbamates. Thus, lead(II),367 bismuth(III)368 zinc,369 cadmium,370 and (organo)mercury371 dithiocarbamates are associated through M- S secondary bonds, to form either dimeric supermolecules or chain-like supramolecular arrays. The arsenic(III)372 and antimony(III)373 dithiocarbamates are... 

Organo-Mercury Associations. Experimentally, the mercury measurements in seawater have been divided into two fractions— reactive and total mercury. The reactive fraction represents the amount of mercury measured in pre-acidified raw seawater samples at approximately pH 1. The total mercury measurement is carried out on aliquots of the preacidified seawater samples in which the organic matter has been destroyed by ultraviolet photooxidation (31). This irradiation procedure is as effective as the persulfate oxidation method (32) commonly used to destroy organic matter in seawater. A complete discussion of our photooxidation methodology can be found in Fitzgerald (33). The amount of mercury determined as the difference between the reactive and total mercury measurements represents a very stable organo-mercury association. 

There is no doubt that mercury is a dangerous element and the hazards associated with exposure to organo-mercurial compounds, particularly alkyl... 

---