Diethylmercury
Names
IUPAC name
diethylmercury
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.010.001 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 211-000-7
MeSH C007378
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2C2H5.Hg/c2*1-2;/h2*1H2,2H3; ☒N
    Key: SPIUPAOJDZNUJH-UHFFFAOYSA-N ☒N
  • InChI=1/2C2H5.Hg/c2*1-2;/h2*1H2,2H3;/rC4H10Hg/c1-3-5-4-2/h3-4H2,1-2H3
    Key: SPIUPAOJDZNUJH-KFYQOLPSAK
  • CC[Hg]CC
Properties
C
4H
10Hg
(C
2H
5)
2Hg
Molar mass 258.71 g/mol
Appearance Colorless liquid
Odor Sweet
Density 2.446 g/ml
Melting point −45 °C (−49 °F; 228 K)
Boiling point 156 to 157 °C (313 to 315 °F; 429 to 430 K)
Insoluble
Solubility Ethers, hydrocarbons, THF
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 Flammable, extremely toxic
GHS labelling:
GHS06: ToxicGHS08: Health hazardGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H225, H300+H310+H330, H373, H410
P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310, P302+P350, P304+P340, P310, P314, P320, P321, P322, P330, P361, P363, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501
Flash point N/A
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Diethylmercury is a flammable, colorless liquid, and one of the strongest known neurotoxins. This organomercury compound is described as having a slightly sweet smell, though inhaling enough fumes to notice this would be hazardous.[1] This chemical can cross the blood–brain barrier, causing permanent brain damage. It is, however, considerably less toxic than dimethylmercury.

Synthesis

Diethylmercury can be obtained from the reaction between ethylmagnesium bromide and mercury(II) chloride.[2]

2 C2H5MgBr + HgCl2 → Hg(C2H5)2 + MgBr2 + MgCl2

Other methods are also known.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Diethyl Mercury | 627-44-1". Archived from the original on 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  2. ^ Brauer, Georg. Handbuch der präparativen anorganischen Chemie Bd. 2. Baudler, Marianne (3rd ed.). Stuttgart. p. 1063. ISBN 978-3-432-87813-3. OCLC 310719490.
  3. ^ Kolbe, Hermann (1860). Ausführliches Lehrbuch der organischen Chemie, Volume 2. p. 964.
Categories