Octyl acetate halides

Mercury di-n-octyl. —Octyl iodide is treated with dilute sodium amalgam in the presence of ethyl acetate, and after completion of the reaction the mass is extracted with ether. Evaporation of the solvent gives an oily liquid of density 1 342 at 17° C., which decomposes at about 200° C. into di-octyl and metallic mercury. When the starting materials are pure it is stated that no by-products occur. Mercury di-n-octyl is insoluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol, ether, or benzene. Treatment with alcoholic iodine or mercuric chloride yields the corresponding di-n-oetyl mercuric halides. 

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