Organolead compounds, properties

Tetraethyllead was the first known organolead compound, synthesized in 1853. Its antiknock properties were discovered in 1922, and since then its consumption has rapidly increased. 

The properties of 216 organolead compounds have been summarized by Harrison112. 

A concerted effort was made to develop general methods that could be applied to several substances within the same compound class. This approach was reasonably successful for pesticides, aldehydes, and organolead compounds. The outcome was satisfactory for substances with similar properties however, special treatment was necessary for single compounds within a class that were unusually reactive or volatile. 

Organolead compounds have been recently widely used. They are used in agriculture (as pesticides), in medicine, as well as in various chemical processes as catalysts for the polymerisation of vinyl monomers, chlorination of hydrocarbons, etc. Lead tetraalkyl derivatives are used as additives for engine fuels due to their antiknock properties. 

The physical properties of the various types of organolead compounds have not been investigated as systematically as those of the other metals. Most of the physical properties measurements have been devoted to the tetraorganolead compounds, although in the past few years some interest has been generated in the organolead halides and carboxylates. A detailed discussion of the physical properties is beyond the scope of this article. This subject has been reviewed recently by Shapiro and Frey 289>. 

Casas, J., Sordo, J. (2006). Lead Chemistry, Analytical Aspects, Environmental Impact, and Health Effects. Amsterdam Elsevier Science. Chapter 1 deals with the history, occurrence, properties, and uses of lead compounds. Chapters 2 and 3 cover the chemistry of coordination and organolead compounds. 

The massive use of lead in kitchen utensils and water pipes goes back to the period of the Roman Empire. Later on, the industrial revolution promoted its use on a global scale. However, it was the discovery of the antiknocking properties of the organolead compounds and the fast development of the auto industry in the last century that turned lead contamination... 

SHApmo and Frey (1968) gave an admirable and thorough survey of the preparation of organolead compounds as well as of their chemical and physical properties. 

Hope, H. S., J. Duncan, J. S. S. Beesley, D. J. Webley, and R. F. Sturrckdk Molluscidal properties of organotin and organolead compounds. With particular reference to triphenyllead acetate. Bull. World Health Org. 36, 955 (1967). Huber, F., H. Horn, and H. J. Haupt Reaktionen von Organometallverbindungen II. Zur Acidolyse von Tetraorganoplumbumbanen. Z. Naturforschg. 22b, 918 (1967). 

Piekos, R., Organolead Compounds. Survey of Their Properties and Applications, Przemysl. Chem. 48 [1969] 255/60. 

A book on biological effects of organolead compounds comprises a series of reviews on physiological properties and toxicity of Pb(C2H5)4 [438]. 

An excellent survey of the chemical and physical properties and the preparation of organolead compounds has been prepared by Shapiro and Frey [62]. 

Organolead-alkali compounds are the least stable of the group-IVB-alkali compounds. They are thermolabile and air and moisture sensitive but are stabilized in such donor solvents as Et O, tetrahydrofuran (THF) or NHj. Information on their isolation is sparse and no physical properties of pure R PbM (M = alkali metal) or R2PbM2 are available. Nevertheless, RjPbM in situ is a powerful tool for synthesizing unsymmetrical RjPbR tetraorganoleads ... 

Halide, carbonyl, nitro, and nitroso compounds were reacted with tributyllead hydride (12, 152, 187, 188) in order to compare the reducing properties of the organolead hydrides of Group IVB more closely. The results are shown in Table IX. 

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