Title: Ethylmercuric Chloride
CAS Registry Number: 107-27-7
CAS Name: Chloroethylmercury
Trademarks: Granosan
Molecular Formula: C2H5ClHg
Molecular Weight: 265.10
Percent Composition: C 9.06%, H 1.90%, Cl 13.37%, Hg 75.67%
Line Formula: CH3CH2HgCl
Literature References: Prepd from ethylmercuric bromide by treating with methanolic KOH, filtering and neutralizing with HCl: Slotta, Jacobi, J. Prakt. Chem. [2] 120, 249 (1929). Prepn from HgCl2 and tetraethyl lead: Whelen in Adv. Chem. Ser. 23, entitled "Metal-Organic Compounds," M. Sittig, Ed. (ACS, Washington DC, 1960) pp 82-86. For the prepn of the bromide from ethylmagnesium bromide and mercuric bromide see Slotta, Jacobi, loc. cit., Marvel et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 47, 3009 (1925). Review: Krause, von Grosse, Die Chemie der Metallorganischen Verbindungen (Berlin, 1937).
Properties: White, silvery leaflets from ethanol, mp 192°. Sublimes easily. Solubility in water at 18° = 1.4 ´ 10-4 g/100 ml, at 100° = 2.5 ´ 10-4 g/100 ml; in ethanol at 18° = 0.75 g/100 g; at 78° = 3.5 g/100 g; in chloroform at 18° = 2.6 g/100 g. Slightly sol in ether.
Melting point: mp 192°
NOTE: A close analog, chloro-(2-methoxyethyl)mercury, Ceresan Wet, is also used as seed fungicide. Caution: Highly toxic. Causes skin burns; is absorbed through the skin. Chronic exposure has caused permanent injury to brain.
Use: Applied at 2% strength (soln or mixed with solids) as a fungicide for treating seeds. |