Mercury salts decarboxylative halogenation

Acyl hypohalites are usually prepared in situ by reaction of a metal salt of die carboxylic acid widi a halogen (equation 3). Classically the silver salt is used, but problems associated widi die preparation of dry silver carboxylates, as well as the more obvious economic factor, have led to the development of methods using mercury and thallium salts. Evidently, those functional groups which react readily widi halogens are not compatible with this approach. A major limitation of the acyl hypohalites is the readiness with which they transfer halogen atoms to alkyl radicals this property essend ly limits their use to decarboxylative halogenation reactions. 

Decarboxylation of an aliphatic acid to the hydrocarbon is best effected by the so-called salt degradation method. That method is to treat the silver or mercury salt of, preferably, an aliphatic or alicyclic carboxylic acid with bromine in an inert solvent a halogenated hydrocarbon is then formed, together with carbon dioxide and the metal bromide, usually in an exothermic reaction, and the bromine can then usually be readily removed either cata-lytically or by means of a Grignard reagent (the Hunsdiecker reaction) ... 

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