Thermal decomposition of di-t-butyl sulphide–mercury(II) chloride

Abstract

Thermal decomposition of the 1 : 1 adduct of di-t-butyl sulphide and mercury(II) chloride has been investigated. The following products of decomposition were identified: mercury sulphide chloride, chloro-t-butylthiomercury(II), 2-methylpropene, hydrochloric acid, and t-butyl chloride. The reaction is first order in the adduct and a mechanism of intramolecular decomposition, involving interactions between aliphatic chains and the halogen atoms of mercury(II) chloride, has been hypothesized. The reactions of formation of chloro-t-butylthiomercury(II) and of its decomposition in the presence of mercury(II) chloride are also identified.