Arylmercury compounds. IV. Symmetrization in the absence of auxiliary ligand

Phenylmercuric acetate is converted into diphenylmercury via a symmetrization process, in the absence of an auxiliary ligand, when the reaction is carried out at 6.5 ≥ pH > 4.0. Arylmercuric salts, in which the aromatic rings contain more than one electron donating group, symmetrize in the absence of an auxiliary ligand when the reaction is carried out at a basic pH. Both processes can be carried out in water or in mixtures of organic solvents and water. The factors influencing the symmetrization at different pH values are discussed.