Free radical reactions in solution. Part 3. The decomposition of dibenzylmercury in toluene

Abstract

Dilute solutions of dibenzylmercury decompose on heating in toluene solution to give mercury and bibenzyl as the main products, along with traces of 1,2,3-triphenylpropane and stilbene. Phenyl-p-tolylmethane was absent. The decomposition of dilute solutions of the mercurial initially follows first-order kinetics in the temperature range 130–160°. Arrhenius parameters are log₁₀A 16.0 ± 0.3; E 38.5 ± 0.5 kcal mol^–1. The rate-determining process is probably homolysis of one benzyl–mercury bond. In concentrated solutions, particularly at the higher temperatures, the kinetics of the decomposition are more complex.