dimethylmercury
Sign in to saveDimethylmercury is an extremely toxic organomercury compound with the formula (CH3)2Hg. A volatile, flammable, dense and colorless liquid, dimethylmercury is one of the strongest known neurotoxins. Less than 0.1 mL is capable of inducing severe mercury poisoning resulting in death.
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Synthesis, structure, and reactions
- Reactivity and physical properties
- Use
- Safety
- Incidents
- References
- External links
Dimethylmercury is an extremely toxic organomercury compound with the formula (CH3)2Hg. A volatile, flammable, dense and colorless liquid, dimethylmercury is one of the strongest known neurotoxins. Less than 0.1 mL is capable of inducing severe mercury poisoning resulting in death.
==Synthesis, structure, and reactions== The compound was one of the earliest organometallics reported, reflecting its considerable stability. The compound was first prepared by George Buckton in 1857 by a reaction of methylmercury iodide with potassium cyanide: 2 CH3HgI + 2 KCN → Hg(CH3)2 + 2 KI + (CN)2 + Hg Later, Edward Frankland discovered that it could be synthesized by treating sodium amalgam with methyl halides: Hg + 2 Na + 2 CH3I → Hg(CH3)2 + 2 NaI It can also be obtained by alkylation of mercuric chloride with methyllithium: HgCl2 + 2 LiCH3 → Hg(CH3)2 + 2 LiCl The molecule adopts a linear structure with Hg–C bond lengths of 2.083 Å.