Unstable intermediates. Part CXLIV. Organomercury radicals in irradiated alkylmercury(II) halides and dimethylmercury

Abstract

On exposure to ⁶⁰Co γ rays at 77 K a range of alkylmercury(II) halides give e.s.r. signals indicative of two types of radical: one, exhibiting only small hyperfine interaction with magnetic mercury isotopes, is identified as R₂ĊHgX; and the other, with very large hyperfine coupling to mercury, as gR. Dimethylmercury gives the radical H₂ĊHgMe together with a species thought to be (Me₂Hg)[graphic omitted]. Structures of these radicals and mechanisms of the processes are discussed.